The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-30
.SALVE OF SAFETY
j. ID. M. HamiltOn's Advice to
University Students.
TOpekan Talks Of Railway
Problem in Illinois.
LIFE PRESERVATION 4 STUDY
Fight Disease of Careless.
ness" Hamilton Says.
Suggestions From the Santa
Fe Claims Attorney.


Urbana, ILL.,, April 3O.-Refore an
immense gathering of the student
body of the University of Illinois to-
day, ]. d. NJ. Hamilton Of Topeka,
claims attorney Of the Atchison. To-
peka & Santa Fe railway. delivered a
timely and learned address on the rail-
way problems Of the day. Judge
plan OF the big railways and corpora
tions Of the country today and sug-
gested that a course in the prevention
of carelessness be established in the
schools Of the United States. He said
in part:
LAS the head of the claim depart
ment of a railway enterprise. that en-
ploys $4,000 men, my study for the
past fifteen years has been to serve
these men who are the bone and sinew
OF the work entrusted to their care,
and to save them from the happening
OF accidents that might just as well
have been avoided.
1T can be truthfully stated that this
is the accident era through which we
are drifting; that the time has come
to stop the floodtide by closing the
preventive accident gate and see that
the employer. the employee and the
public all work together that the de-
sired end may be attained.
dent ills? The thought naturally
comes to the minds Of those who are
brought in contact with the laboring
element, how can this be successfully
accomplished in the interest Of the
employer and employee; that days
wage may be earned and the labor
performed to the best advantage and
with protection to the labOrer, who
must necessarily be surrounded with
co-laborers Of competency, which the
lou tNn fnA nut tn
Life as Well as Soul.
ut is certainly as important to save
a mans life for the future of himself
and family as it is to save his soul.
but If both can be accomplished. the
country has not only good citizen
but the laboring world loyal and
safe employee. There is nothing SO
conducive to confidence as safety. If
we can feel that those to whom we
entrust our earthly existence are care
full, whether in the railway service. in
the factory or any other place. we are
OF caution that iron out the wrinkles
of carelessness and lead US to the
fountain of the preservation Of life
where the spray of the waters OF safe
then, should we not all be apostles and
disciples Of safety. in the safety move
ment? - 90 - s'.~if -" -, =
Il stand before you as an advocate
Of a thorough examination, education
and care of the laborer. Careful ideas
breed safe acts l believe in the pro-
lection Of the American laborer. care
not in what induetry he may be serving
his employer, we must all advocate mis-
advancement and education not only
in his trade, but his citizenship, that
our government may have in his al
legiance q reliable citizen, and one
upon whom 1t can depend for its pres
ervation and maintenance. Every
manager of every department of an
industry employing labor should bring
doing, there is built up a strong. pow
erful organization among employees
which through the committee system,
stands for good workmanship. loyalty.
ing out of strikes and disorders. which
are the thorns in the flesh OF every
laborer.
10000 Killed on Railways.
I'VE are told about ten thousand
people are killed and almost eighty
thousand injured on the railways of
the nation every year. This statement
is somewhat significant. 1t combines
employees. passengers and others
(the public) but it is certainly stu
pendous when the newspapers of our
land chronicle that in the industrial
plants Of our land about $4,000 people
are killed and about 100000 injured
every year, which. taken by way OF
comparison with the showing OF rail-
ways indicate that with their two mill
lion employees and millions upon mill
lions of passengers carried. as we'll az
millions using the tracks. either tres
passing or walking on right-ofway.
the railways, those arteries Of COM
merce traversing our country in all
directions, show a much greater de-
gree of care than do the industries
ITO the credit of many OF our rail-
way systems and manufacturing in
| dustries, bureaus of education have
/ been formed in charge of able in
structors for novices desiring knowl-
edge in the different branches OF
trade and they must show by way OF
examination, q certain degree of eff
cheney before entering the service
This preliminary education, while
probably not thoroughly practical is
| valuable as an aid to the proficiency
Of the student in the advancement OF
his trade.
THE campaign as to education OF
employees was first inaugurated by
the United States Steel Corporation
and has been put into practical use by
! ali the leading railways of our gov.
| eminent. The result IL highly sat
| isfactory in the conservation Of lives