Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-21
EMPLOYERS SIDE OF COMPENSATION
Some of the Reasons Why Industrial Insurance Be Regarded
Matter of Social, Rather Than Class, Legislation.
BY RAYMOND C. FULLER

CtOMEBODY wrote the other day that the
~ time has now come when the public rec
ognizes that the employer is in duty bound
to look after and take care of his employees
1t was few days ago. also, that the Penn
sylvania Manufacturers Association, through
it's president as spokesman, said: 1--WE shall
support any measure" lin the State Legsla-
ture) which we think will promote industry
and improve the condition of industrial work.
without endangering the first essential to
their comfort and happiness-wages"
The association declares itself to be in favor
of the principle of workmens compensation,
and says that 1t wants Pennsylvania to have
a workmen's compensation law.
These three facts are full of significance.
The writer who referred to the employer as
a guardian of the welfare of the employe
misconceived entirely the new social spirit in
industry which he thought he was interpret
ing. The adoption of his idea would lead to
the worst kind of class legislation. The last
thing that the workers want, and certainly
the last thing that they should have, Is pro-
lection through any form of employers
peternalism. Labor Is not asking for work.
mems compensation as a favor; neither is 1t
trying to get something for nothing when it
makes the demand
Mutual Advantage or None
The quotation from the statement of the
Manufacturers Association is so worded that
It seems, in part, to express the views of the
rearguard of retreating paganism in industry.
That tender solicitude for the comfort and
happiness of the workers, that firm deter
mination not to do anything which would
endanger their precious wages, rests on no
truer sanction than does the practice of rank
ing the workers little lower than machines.
But the complete statement OF the assoca-
ton as to it's attitude toward workmens
compensation shows that the members of
that body regard themselves neither as phil
anthropic patrons of labor nor as victims of
oppression. and that therefore, they are of
sound mind on one of the most important
questions to come before the present Legisa-
ture at Harrisburg They are not out for
workmen's compensation as charity or as a
surrender.
Social legislation. If it is to be worth while,
must be founded on the advantage of both or
all parties concerned. The law of advantage
which has made every inch of economic his
tory promises the universal adoption Of in
dustrial insurance. A square deal for indus
try's rank and file stands on par with a
square deal for industry's captains. If social
and economic Justice" means anything at all
1t means the opportunity of every employer
and every employe to put forth his utmost
etfort-for himself. Cooperation toward that
end Is the way to economic freedom. II is
the democratic way toward greater democ-
racy. An article on american Kultur," re-
Gently published on this page, dealt with
altruism and self-interest the allied forces
which are building a splendid national eff
cheney. Enlightened seif-interest brings en-
ployers to the support of workmen's COM
pensation.
The Folly of Obstruction
True the making of a compensation law is
accompanied by more or less conflict; but the
less OF 1t, the create ths gain for both sides
The New York law has been called exeep-
tionally severe on the employers, though the
Judgment time Is not yet the statute having
been in operation too short time. But II
the employers got the worst OF it, they may
blame themselves, In few years. time sew
eral bills were drawn up two OF them find
ing their way to the statute books and each
one after the first was regarded by the labor
forces as new and bigger victory Had the
employers withdrawn their violent opposi-
tion earlier in the legislative history Of the
New York law and co-operated more will
ingly in the framing of bill they undoubt-
edly would not have lost so much ground
In the States which still lack compensation
laws the employers are not likely to adopt
the policy OF obstruction. Nothing can stop
the progress OF Industrial insurance. Every
country In Europe, except Switzerland ana
Turkey, has worlSnen's compensation and so
have the following "a states OF the Union,
New Hampshire, Massachusetts,, Connecticut
Rhode Island. New York, New Jersey, Mary
land. West Virginia, Ohio Kentucky Miehi-
gan Wisconsin, Illinois. Minnesota, Iowa. Ne
braska Kansas, Texas. Louisiana. Arizona.
Nevada California, Oregon and Washington.
IN q dozen or more other States bills will be
considered by the Legislature this year.
No State which has once enacted a com
pensatton law has changed its mind about its
underlying principle Maryland started the
ball rolling in this country with a law which
was aftersard declared unconstitutional but
that State came back little later win 4
constitutional statute. Ohio began with an
sleetife act After its repeal Dudley r. Ken
nsas special counsel for the xoanestas.n
shssf ana xnhs conpany. enc d tie largest
subscribers % tue present insurance fana s. +