The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-08
TO Get The HABIT
Santa Fe Safety Rally Was a
Big Success.
Thirty-Five Hundred in At
tendance at Meeting.
TALKS WERE TO THE POINT
j. ID. Nj. Hamilton, "Father" of
Movement, Was There.
Prominent Santa Fe Officials
Were Among the Speakers.

Prominent Santa Fe officials told
$500 Santa Fe employees at the
safety rally Saturday night in the
habit" J. D. M. Hamilton, claims
attorney for the Santa F'e system, who
opened the meeting, termed the move
ment, which has met with popular
favor. +Godsend."
c. w. Kouns, general manager act
ed as chairman The principal
speaker of the occasion was Isaiah
Hale, commissioner of safety for the
Santa Fe. His address, which was re-
plete with valuable suggestions, was
illustrated with moving pictures
showing the numerous careless things
that railway workmen do every day.
AS Mr.. Hamilton is the father of
the safety habit movement which has
spread like wild fire to railway lines
all over the country, it was fitting
that he should open the meeting and
make the Introductory remarks. The
concluding feature was the singing of
a song hit, Wen Rally Round the
Safety Habit" composed by the orig
inator of the idea.
The meeting was an enthusiastic
one. The speeches were right to the
point, and the big crowd went away
feeling that the loss of life through
carelessness will be reduced to
minimum as a result of the move
ment.
One of the best talks of the even
ing was made by James Mullens, fore
man of the blacksmith shops. To
judge from the enthusiasm displayed
by the audience, he struck the key
note of safety habit idea.
Progress of the Movement.
In introducing the chairman, Mr..
Hamilton said:
This safety movement inaugural
ed as it has been upon many of the
prominent railroads of the country,
as well as in the manufacturing in
dustries throughout our continent, has
spread itself so rapidly that it has met
with public favor upon the part of
the laboring element. 1t attracted
the attention of the president of our
railway system. Mr.. E. P. Ripley. 1t
attracted my attention, as head of the
claim department of this system.
Il realized ir looking over the rec
ords in my office that there were too
many accidents happenings upon the
Santa Fe Railway system that might
just as we'll have been avoided.
came to the conclusion two years ago
that IS per cent of the accidents that
We're happening were brought about
by the carelessness of the employee
himself or some employee working
with him.
THE thought struck me that no
more humanitarian act could be in
stalled upon any railroad or manu-
featuring industry that would reap
louder praise for the man who gave
it his attention and who injected into
the minds of the employee the safe
ty habit in so far as the performance
of their work is concerned. Mr.. Rip
ley, the great humanitarian that he
is, believing in the welfare of the
$4,000 employees that are in his
charge and having heart full of
affection for their happiness, pros
perity and the preservation of their
lives, saw fit to entrust to the claim
department the organization of a
safety bureau and we have done so.
1t has met with favor upon the Atchi-
son proper.
1T has met with favor upon the
Gulf lines, where our commissioner
of safety has been giving his safety
show and tonight is the last meeting
that is being held upon the system
east of Albuquerque. My friends, it
is not my purpose to make you a
speech tonight-far from it. I believe
in the protection of American labor.
1 believe to do so is to safeguard the
employees and the employers. I feel
preserved in the ranks of our men,
not only for their benefit, but for the
benefit of their families.
81 believe that we are doing a good, !
that is q Godsend, to each and every
one of you and when this is done and
the men are thoroughly vaccinated
with Get the Safety Habit 1 believe
that the cloud of distress that has
been lowering over you will be lifted |
that the flag of carelessness will be
hauled down, and the arms of the
chance taker will be stacked, there to
remain forever for your protection"
Purpose of the Meeting.
In explaining the purpose of the
campaign the chairman, Mr.. Kouns,
said
I'VE are on a campaign of safety
that our lives and our limbs may be
preserved to us and our families and
1 know we can make success our own.
Let US go forward with the campaign,
taking advantage of the experience of
others and especial advantage of the
experience of our safety commissioner |
who can teach Us how to help our
selves in the exercise of judicious care
and to avoid many of the distressing
accidents that occur. We have quite |
a long program, a most interesting
one. and we will hurry along the |
speechmaking part of it.
This campaign I wish to say to you |
is endorsed by all of the executive |