The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1914-05-08
SOCIAL REFORM KEYNOTE OF
SPEECH BY SENATOR B0YLEN
OPENING CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA
Minimum Wages, WOrkmen's
Compensation and Mothers
Pension Laws Discussed
WAR THE CRIME OF
MODERN CIVILIZATION
Big Audience Enthused BY
Brilliant Speech Ht Moose
Hall Last Night.

Social reforms was the subject of a
speech by Senator James Boyle of
Eveleth at the Moose hall last even
ing at the first political rally of the
present primary election campaign in
Virginia. Senator ,Boyle's meeting
was an unqualified success. 1t was
we'll attended and the senator's speech
made a profound impression on all
who heard it, 1t was something of
a departure from the usual campaign
political speech. 1t introduced new
issues in keeping with the advanced
thought of the times and it was a
human interest plea to citizenship that
brought a strong appeal and got very
near his audience.
Senator Boyle discussed the work.
mems compensation law of the state
of Minnesota, the mothers pension
law, the minimum wage law, world
wide disarmament and other issues of
a similar nature at length. Through
out the course of his speech he was
literally applauded.
Nothing Behind Him But Men.
Senator Boyle introduced himself.
81 want to be elected to the congress
of the United States,' he said and |
am going to tell you why. "There is
nothing behind me in this campaign
but men, and men can defeat all the
organizations and all the money in
the world. l want to talk to you
briefly about some o. the measures |
have advocated in the Legislature of
the state of Minnesota and some of
the things in the way Of national
legislation that / firmly believe in
that you may get my line of think
ing. Most of these matters come
under The head of social reform They
are very near to the everyday prob
lens of the times and they are sub
jects that are receiving attention from
broad thinkers in every walk of life
Workmen's Compensation Act.
"The workmen's compensation act
at present on the statute books of the
state of Minnesota comes under this
head. It is not wholly just or ade-
quate measure, but it is the best law
we were able to get at the last ses-
sion of the legislature of this state
Under the system that formerly OBJ
tanned when a laboring man was in
iured in an industrial pursuit unless
he could make settlement with his
employers he was compelled to bring
suit. That suit was always defended
by able attorneys. The defense was
that he was negligent, that his fellow
servant was negligent. Occasionally
the laboring man got verdict. lr
this section the average so success
full was only one in for or five and ir
the whole state of Minnesota it wa!
only one in eight. The old theor!
was that society should stand thu
burden of the man who was incap
aciated through industrial accidents
The new theory is that industr.
should pay for human life, just a
it pays for the wear and tear of ma
chinery.
"When the last session of the legis
lature convened there was submitte'
compensation bill which had bee1
framed largely by the employers o
labor. The compensation fixed in tina
bill for permanent disability an
death was too low. 1t contained tn
clause wilfull negligence so cunning
ly adopted that it had the effect i
a large degree Of multiplying the yer
objects it was intended to accomplish
I introduced an amendment to thi
bill raising the minimum compenss
ton from SIS to So a week and tn
maximum compensation from $40
S12 a week and the maximum pa!
ment for death from $4,000 to $500
While that litigation was pending
committee and before the legislatul
received no less than 80 telegram
in one day from employers of labt
in this district protesting against i
passage. Then we went before tt
representatives of labor and sai
This is the best bill we can get. Shs
we kill it, or shall we enact it in
law. 1t isn't just, it isn't adequat
but it is better than the old systel
And labor told us to support tn
bill and to work for it's passage. F
my part am proud Of my connecti'
with the passage of the workmer
compensation act. 1t has come
stay and it will be improved as co
ditions demand.
The Minimum Wage Law.
~ want to talk to you next abo
the minimum wage law. 1t is bas
upon the theory that no man shot
be compelled to work for wages tn
are inadequate to furnish the nec'