The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-05-21
MAKE BITTER PROTEST
AGAINST EXEMPTIONS
UNDER THE SHERMAN LAW

and announcement 70 the enemies o
the government. and IL, theretore
treason. pure and simple.
Often our attitude has been mis-
construed in the matter Of labor legis
lation. Our activities In the mattel
of workmen's compensation corrobo
rates our desire for beneficial and con
structive legislation In the field o
some industrial betterment.
THE atmosphere Is literally charg
ed with oil sor Is old but revised fads
and fancies. The politician. the up
litter. the pulpit and the press are al
as busy as bees reforming everybody
and every conceivable activity OF life
through legislation. without heed oil
attention to the natural law OF eco
Monies or the experience of ages.
Women agftators are again abroad
In the land. Resolving seeds OF discon
tent among mothers, sisters and
daughters. whom they would segregate
from the natural higher plane of wo
manhood. and make political enthu
siasts and ward heelers.
Women are to be made virtuous by
the enactment of minimum wage laws
tried and abandoned as failures as
far back as 400 yers. Minimum wye
laws will neither create nor maintain
virtue, but they will level downward
the standard OF wages. and with II the
standard of living and of business.
The truth Of the matter is. reform
Is needed In the people themselves
more than In legislation"
Joseph Johnson, Are commissioner
OF New York city, scored fire insur
ance companies for careless methods
in paper ON Fire prevention and
insurance"
las soon as the American people
understood that they really do not
have TO pay out $500, 0OO.0 900 year In
fire insurance premiums. they will
stop paying them" said Mr. Johnson
does not mean that there Is no loss In
case OF fire. AS a matter Of fact. the
loss Is utter and complete. The con-
certed labor OF human beings is alb
solutely destroyed.
II do not hesitate to say that II the
people as represented In their legis-
latures and in congress will grapple
with the problem, It Is absolutely feas-
ible within the next ten years to cut
down this loss, irrespective OF in
creases In population. by onehalf.
say that because | am cutting down
the fire loss in New York city In this
ratio at this very moment.
Strange to say, our talent and in
genuity have been expended entirely
up to three or four years ago In put
ting out fires. Men have now become
interested In the answer to the Ques-
ton: How many fires take place
" hich can be prevented?
Fifteen to 25 per cent OF our fires
are caused by the careless throwing
away OF matches. cigars and cigar
cites. The Equitable fire was caused
by a Waterman who threw lighted
match into u waste paper basket"
Mr.. Johnson said that the use OF
fireworks In Fourth Of July celebra.
tons should be curtailed. He then
took up incendiary fires
You still have to contend with
those who deliberately set premises
on fire to defraud the insurance com.
panies." he said. II regret TO state
that this criminal element in New
York, Chicago and the other large
single factor In our Are waste. The
incendiary fires in New York. two
years ago, constituted % per cent OF
all fires"
Mr.. Johnson said that cloak, fac
tories were set on fire because OF
losses caused In the Mississippi river
foods OF year ago; that hat and cap
factory fires occur from May to
August. because the factories become
overstocked; that millinery and feath-
er factories are fired because Of a
change OF fashions which renders
their stocks valueless; that many
fires were caused by the sudden fall
Ing of OF the willow plume craze. He
scored the insurance companies for
not exercising more care In insuring
such business.
THE fire insurance companies can.
rot long maintain the position of this
nation In the humiliating place OF first
rank in unnecessary fire waste he
said.