The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-07-03
The OLD WAY
AND THE new

one needs to let his mind go back bu
a short time TO recall the conditions tha
then existed for comparison with thos,
of today In reference to the treatment re-
ceived for injuries sustained by workmei
and their dependents during their EN-
ployment.
Prior to Jan. /, 1914, the idea OF justic,
to the injured workman was unknown II
Ohio. When minor injury befell him
his wages ceased and bis savings, il he
had any, had to be drawn on until he was
able to return 10 work. II the injury
was of major character, of if death re.
suited, II meant suit for damages, with
the interminable court delays, heavy court
costs and large fees for attorneys to fight
the case through many years of litigation
with doubtful outcome in a verdict and
with little il anything left at the end as
compensation.
The damage claims and damage suits
were resisted by the liability insurance
companies with all the force andresources
of their attorneys; who were trained by
long experience to make a fight, and
there was no sentiment, no sense of JUS
tice, no humanitarian prompting in deal
ing with claim for an injury. 1t was
| simply a matter of wearing the claimants
out with prolonged litigation, and il a
| settlement were made TO give as little as
possible. This was the policy of the
soulless, heartless liability insurance
companies, which insured employers
against such losses for big pay, during
all their years of operation in Ohio un-
der the old order OF things.
On Jan. |, 1914, under the guidance of
Governor James NJ. Cox, the workmen's $
compensation law became compulsory in
Ohio, and during the few months that
have elapsed what a change has been
wrought Not day has passed without
several persons being beneficiaries of
this, the most humane law ever written
into the statutes of any state. There is
hardly a community in Ohio in which its
beneficial effects have not been witnessed.
1t is no longer necessary to appeal to
the courts, spend long years of waiting
exhaust resources in fighting, and finally
divide with an attorney the amount of the
jury's verdict, If one was secured. No
matter how small or how large the in
jury, the claim is adjusted in a few days
by the State Liability Board of Awards,
and payments to those to whom the
awards are made are started, Hundreds
of injured workmen have already enjoyed
the benefits of the workmen's compensa-
ton act. Many a widow with little chill
dren, whom a fatal accident has deprived
OF husband and father, have found
the state of Ohio coming to their support
under this most benefcient law.
The cartoon printed in this issue af-
fords a striking comparison between the
old and the new way towards a settle
ment for damages received by working
men, or their dependents, through injury
or death.
The workmen's compensation law has
deprived the liability insurance compan-
les of their revenues in Ohio received
from the distress of the widows and the
orphans; and it is the liability insurance
companies that have been making the
fight upon Governor Cox under several
DISCUSSES, with the hope of fencompassing
bis defeat and then secure the repeal of
the workmen' compensation law.
The fate of the workmen's compensa-
tion law is in the hands of the voters of |
Ohio at the coming election.