The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1915-11-18

the state has accepted the Act It
will astonish you to know what the
Act has already meant to the work
ing classes of Colorado. There have
been up to Thursday last HOP acci-
dents. They are reported to the COM
mission at the rate of fifty day.
There have been eighteen deaths up
to Thursday. What a sad toll In hui
man life, Many of these deaths were
of men who have large families. I'm
der the old common law they could
not have recovered a cent from their
employers in law suits; under com
pensation, widows and children will
receive as high as $500. This menas
the literal salvation of these families;
heir safety from poverty and chance
for education and opportunity for the
little children in life.
Took Great Risk.
But yesterday, and the coal minert
who went down a thousand feet into
the earth to dig the substance that
warns you and me thru the biting
winter, went not knowing II he would
eve rreturn alive to earth, and that II
death came, his wife and little ones
would, in all human probability. be
cast upon society. without a house or
cent in the bank or crumb OF bread:
and the man who digs our precious
metals went into the bowels of the
earth knowing that his family faced
the same dismal and desperate out
look. Now, all is changed. By vir-
tue OF this great humanitarian law,
every man who steps into a miners
cage or lifts a pick to strike blow
down in the depths OF the earth. does
SO with the certain knowledge that
his wife and little ones are protected
from hunger and want II disaster over
takes him: that no longer will they
20 thru life in bitter hardship and
hunger, but that this law stands over.
them to protect and safeguRrd them
to bring them food and shelter and
clothing and give them chance in
the world.
Revoiutionixe industrial Life.
Gentlemen, such a law as this is
bound to revolutioniZe certain phases
of our Industrial life in Colorado;
bound to bring bettcr conditions and a
higher standard OF living and more
hope and cheer into the hearts OF the
men and women who toll in this state.
And | say and you say. thank God
for it.
THE State Insurance Fund has, been
an unqualified success. There has
been lively competition. but 1t is all
over now. There is plenty OF bust
ness for all. private companies and
the State Insurance companies. The
state fund has II per cent of all the
compensation business written and
has annual premiums of about 100000
and a payroll insured amounting to
about So 200. .00a.
The fund has the magnificent merit
rating system OF the private com
panies and has established itself up
on a sound and secure basis. Not
dollar of the money paid by employ
ers can 90 TO anything but payment OF
benefits. There are no coal mines
insured in the fund. IL would be
physical and financial impossibility
now to break the State Fund: II has
passed the danger point When we
began many predicted that a catas-
trophe would wipe us out. that forty
men would be killed at once and there
would be no money to pay them: but
that did not happen: the danger IL
past and the fund Is secure.
Given Broad Powers.
The Industrial act gives the com
mission broad powers over The whole
industrial field. in supervising the re-
lations OF capital and labor. In the
general. the commission has power:
ITO supervise and compel the en-
forcement of all labor laws.
2-The owner to compel the adop-
ton of safety devices and to enforce
all laws and adopt all measures that
both as to life and limb and sanitary
viii protect the safety OF the workers.
conditions OF employment.
3-The compulsory Investigation OF
all Industrial disputes. During the In
vestigation by the commission OF such
disputes the employer cannot lock out
his men and the men cannot 40 on
strike Each side must wait. stay at
work under the same conditions and
keep cool until the commission has
finished its Investigation and made an
award: then either or both sides
may act as they wish. Both sides
may agree in advance that the COM
mission shall arbitrate their dispute
or they may both accept the award
after It Is made. and in either case
the award Is binding on both parties.
This is the Canada plan OF compui.
sorry Investigation. the same idea that
IL embodied in the Bryan peace trea.
ties.
The commission is also command.
ed by the law to do all in It's power
to promote concilliation and arbitra-
ton of Industrial disputes.
Power Must Be Used Wisely.
You at once see that while circum
scribed In some respects, we yet have
great power. Great power IL 10 be
used wisely, cautiously and not rash.
ly, and SO we have and shall use II.
We have no power TO try on new.
ideas. nor to inaugurnte n series Of
reforms. but we do have the power
to compel obedience by both sides TO
the law and secure henfth and aafetv