The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-05-13
TO SAVE WORKMEN
FROM TUBERCULOSIS
Extension of Campaign Planned By Ma
tional Association Described at Con-
vention in Washington, D. c.

Washington, d. c., May l3.-Plans fol
the extension of the anti-tuberculosi:
campaign among the working men anc
women of the country were outlined by
DIR. Charles J. Hatfield, the executive sec.
! rotary of the National Association for
the Study and Prevention of Tuberculo-
sis, in an address before the sociological
| section of the association here yesterday.
DIR. Hatfield said;
Local tuberculosis relief associations
among the working men and women of
this country have for the most part tax
en- four forms: those in which the em-
ployes and the employer have both con
tributed on a more or less fixed basis ;
those In which the employers only have
contributes those in which the working
men have appealed to the general com.
munity for the establishment of a sana
torium; and those in which the labor UNI
ions have controlled the work for the re-
lief OF fellow members. There are be-
sides these four forms of organization
the large number of general benefit asso-
Citations in shops and stores and the
splendid work OF the large international
unions such as the typographical print
ing pressmen, photo engravers, cigar
makers and others.
In a recent study made by the ma
tional association. organizations of the
four types mentioned were carefully
studied in such cities as Hartford, New
Haven and Meriden Conn. Worcester,
Mass, Albany, Brooklyn and Buffalo, N.
", and Newark n. j. From the ex
perience of these organizations a plan
where the employer contributes every
thing and simply arranges for a limited
stay of his men in sanatorium, as is
done in Worcester, seems to be undesir
a Bile. Another plan which cannot be com
mended very highly is one in which the
bulk of effort is spent on the establish
mcnt of sanstorium. In the first of
these two plans, no provision is made
for cooperation with the workingmen,
which seems to be vital to the success of |
any tuberculosis relief organization. In |
the second the establishment and main
tenanee of sanatorium appears to be |
too great drain on the limited private
resources of the working men. Such eff
fort should rather be encouraged and in
sisted upon as legitimate expenditure
from the public purse,
in Hartford and other Connecticut
titles form of organization has grown
Up in which the workers contribute what.
sver they are able to free tuberculosis
,ed fund, and the employers generally
.qnal the joint contribution of their en-
,loyes This money is then used in
reatment of tuberculous men and women
n state sanatoria, SO that by offering
treatment at reduced rates, the state
lso in effect contributes share.
THE national association urges that in
very industrial city and town some spe-
ial effort be made TO organize the work
ng men and women in the anti-tuber-
ulosis campaign. This organization
hould preferably be under control and
erculosis association and should have
he following features;
"A plan of collection Of funds which
1ould bring contributions both from EN-
loyes and from employers.
"A system OF periodic medical exam
nation so arranged that it would diseov- {
+ and control early cases of tuberculosis
nd other diseases, and that it would also
rovide for the suitable employment of
he convalescent worker.
a division of responsibility which :
ould throw much of the care or relief q
the ttlherculous working men upon 9
re shoulders of the special organizations
the men themselves.
1.-THE opportunity to collect statistical
aterial should be recognized and the
orking men themselves should be i'm
ressed through every possible means :,
it'll the necessity and desirability of !.
lis type of cooperation"