Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1914-08-13
FACTORY CASUALTIES.

as is very frequently the case II sucn
presentments. the statement OF facts
concerning the shoe as source OF
trouble and the deductions therefrom
have been questioned. This justifies
a repetition and application of the
main facts and principles cited In the
former paper
Because it is officially recorded and
accepted as evidence of weakness In
organizations on which the great ma
tions expect to rest the defense OF
their national life, we take 1t for
granted that the statement that the
shoe is the source of general disa-
bility from foot excavations in the
shoe wearing armies of the world
amounting to at least 80 per cent win
be accepted as approximately correct,
Soldiers wear shoes chosen more for
the purpose of protection and comfort
than for any consideration Of appear
ance. The civilian, on the other hand,
especially If young and inexperienced,
considers style and what others may
think of his foot-gear above every
thing else. Now, If selected physical
specimens Of hardy, trained men using
their best efforts to secure comfort
and efficiency experience 80 per cent
disability from shoes 80 chosen. 1t is
not unreasonable to assume that even
higher rate prevails among civil
ians; and this Is undoubtedly the
chief reason why 30 few persons have
the walking habit these days-they
cannot walk because their shoes will
not permit them to do SO In comfort
That too is why SO many flabby mus
cled, pasty faced men and women are
seen on our streets Such stock La
timid and cowardly, and is easily
thrown into panic or disease, and is
therefore logical source of origin for
many social and Industrial fills.
The margin of safety in many indus
tries Is the matter OF fraction of an
inch, and anything, whether 1t be an
ear-ache. tooth-ache or foot-ache
that diverts the mind from the work
in hand tends to reduce the alertness
and general muscular control, and the
loss Of SO much as that fraction OF an
| inch means inevitable mutilation.
Statistics covering accidents in fac
tories In Illinois for a period Of one
year show that between the hours of
and o'clock in the morning there
were 100 accidents, and this number
steadily and progressively increased
until in the hour between IL and IL,
noon, 257 accidents we're recorded.
Then between i and o'clock, after
noon, Ill accidents occurred, and the
number again increased progressively
hour after hour until, between 4 and
o'clock, the maximum of 260 accidents
was reached. This shows total of
SIT accidents in the fatigued state as
against 231 accidents when approx.
mately fresh. And carefully note the
| difference between the first morning
hours and the first afternoon hours.
The difference between the early
|
hour is comparatively slight, but 1t is
highly significant In that it points to
personal negligence on the part of the
operator between the hours of p. m.
and 5 a. m. 1t brings the subject OF
social conditions in the home to the
front, opens up the matter of personal
hygiene, Of sleeping quarters, of hab
it's of food, drink, smoking. and every
thing that takes place outside the fac
tory.
The writer frankly confesses that
| as the result of observations made In
some twelve or more states, If he were
manufacturer, banker or mer
chant he would not employ any person
with pinched and sore feet to operate
any power machine capable OF injur
ing the operator or a fellow employee
or to handle or account for any mate
rial sums of money, or to transact any
business requiring exactness and ex
ecutive ability. For 1t is demonstrated
beyond the shade of doubt that M
mind can consciously entertain tive
impressions at the same time, ant
therefore keen and sustained alertnesi
is impossible to any individual undel
physical irritation.
In the unity of materials, machiner,
and men that constitutes the modern
factory organization, the most impor
tant factor is the men, Every concerI
of any size has its purchasing agents
its inspectors and laboratories to ex
anime and test incoming and outgoing
materials; It's machinists and invent
ors to keep the mechanical part to {
standard of efficiency; but little at
tention has been given the most fun
damental Of all the factors--the men
Efficiency depends on close attention
imagination and the ability for quicl
adjustment Unexpected and suddenly
occurring complications demand in
slant decision without time for reflec
ton, and herein the man under irrita
tion becomes source of danger tt
himself and to his fellow employees
for he is in state where the element
of danger results In an emotiona
wave which may produce temporary
motor paralysis or overthrow of rea
son.
Multitudes are working longer thar
their present condition justifies, ant
therefore beyond their capacity; anc
/ the need of the mnltitldes Is the effnr1