The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-04-22

first movement has had much to %
3 With bringing about this change il,
sentiment both from within the ranks
1 Of the asployes OF these corporations,
and with the general public rs we'll .
The facts with regard 20 this move
Z n2sat-sAas il is q great humanitarian
/ work as Wen IS q great secnotnic
Saving when efficiently organized. is
an appeal with which the worker. as
vel! as the general public, IS in sym.
patty
1t cannot be denied that an en-
ploye. NO matter what his grade or
position, responds to human interest
l in his welfare, If such interest shall
appear 10 be spontaneous rather than
! the result OF enforcement OF rules.
wished upon the employer by pro-
cess of law.
Accidents Still Happen.
the employers liability laws which
are being so generally enacted
throughout the states. Or. put it the
other way about. and say the -sem-
ployes' compensation" laws. which is
the more general term, as indicating
where the legislation originated. The
operation of these laws has had abso-
lutely no effect in reducing the num-
Der of casualties among employees, so
far as any effort of avoidance of acct
dent on the part of those employees
was concerned.
1t Is true that wherever such laws
have been put in force, the number
OF casualties has been reduced in
marked degree, but this result has
been achieved through the enforced
adoption OF mechanical safety devices
by the employer. There has been
no particular incentive offered the
employe to share in the responsibility
for safety. Rules have been adopted
IN many cases by employers, coinci-
dent with the installation OF improved
safety devices, laying a penalty of dis
missal or fine in the shape OF en-
forced vacation for the employe who
neglects or refuses to use the safety
appliances provided.
Rules are necessary in the conduct
of any business, but are such rules
the very best method of gaining the
cooperation OF the enlploye?
Suppose it were possible to elimi
nate all accidents due to defective
machinery or lack of safeguards by
the careful inspection of such ma
chimes and the installation of abso-
Iute safeguards. The employer would.
unaided by the employe, have reduced
the hazard of that employee less than
ten percent The other ninety per.
cent is the human equation-lack OF
thought or the absence Of capacity
for thinking on the part OF the en-
ploye.
Direct Appeal is Better.
If it was worth while, in the opin-
ion Of the workers themselves, to
place upon the statute books laws
which have the effect OF reducing
casualties less than ten percent is it
not reasonable to suppose that when
the direct, intelligent, humane appeal
is made to the employee to enlist his
assistance in the attempt to eliminate
the other ninety percent of industrial
casualties, much better showing
can be made?
While 1t may be said that the or
ganization of the safety first move
ment among. the employees OF our In |
dustries is as yet largely experiment /,
tai, the results which have already
been attained lend color to the claims
of the most enthusiastic of the sup
porters of the cause.
There will always be the man
from Missouri" who has to be shown,
and the old saying: Convince man
against his will, he Is of the same
opinion still is aptly illustrated in
the remark of the able manager of a
Michigan electric railroad, who said:
"Oh, yes. We have safety first
organization. 1t gives Jones (trac-
&c manaser) something to play with
in his odd moments and it doesn't do
any harm. even if it doesn't do much
good, so far as l can see."
Streak of Luck?
He was asked if there had been any |
decrease in the number Of accidents
and damage claims, and in the num-
Der of accidents suffered by employees
since the safety first work had been
inaugurated in his company.
Well yes. That is to say" he con-
ttnued, 1--WE had about fifty percent |
less of all classes Of accidents the
past year, but / don't know If the
safety first movement had anything to
do with II. Or whether it was just a
streak of good luck"
From that you might Judge that this
managers birthplace was somewhere
near the center of Missouri.
There may be some of you railroad
managers here today who are from
Missouri in reference to this safety
first movement If you are, suppose
you take these few scattered facts
into consideration
The railroads of New York state, !
taken as whole, have reduced the
casualties to employees and passengers
IN the last year Of operation of the
safety first work by seventy percent.
Motormen Think Safety.
More than any other phase of in
dustrial activity the street railways I
come in close contact with the gen
eral public in this relation of main I
tenance of safety. Your motormen
will tell you that not a day passes !
but that they are not called upon to
think safety for scores Of thoughtlegs
people in the streets. On the motor