The broad ax., 1916-07-01
BY KARL MONTE.

man of the State of Illinois. This is
true in other sovereign states, and In
other countries where such an act has
been adopted. 1t is no less true In the
great State of Illinois.
1t is impossible to conceive that the
sons of this great state, who fostered
the framing of this wonderful piece of
legislation, could have had any other
idea in mind than the obtaining Of the
very results which have accrued from
the wise and potent enforcing of this
most popular law by such competent
and widely experienced men of affairs,
as, at the present time, are intrusted
with that honor.
The law provides that not more than
two men of the same political party
shall serve on the Board at the same
time. This means that the Industrial
Board shall be and is composed of
Democrats and Republicans. But, in
the administering of this law, that so
vitality affects the poor laboring man,
mere politics have been thrown to the
winds, so to speak, fractional alliances
have been swept aside, party lines OBJ
liberated and all the energies of all
the members composing this organiza-
ton, and their immediate assistants
have been concentrated with absolutely
the one object in mind-the administer
ing of the Illinois Workmen's Law so
that there will exist a better under
standing between employer and en-
ployee; a more amicable relation; a
better laboring condition; more protec-
ton for the man by the sweat of whose
brow great wealth is amassed; and his
family which is dependent upon him; a
greater stimulus for the laborer that
he may take an increased interest in
his employers business from the fact
that he knows his employer is protect
ing him, and will continue to protect
him, in his illness and in health, there
by promoting an increased production.
POOR MAN HAS CHANCE.
No man is so high nor any man so
low; no man is so rich nor any man
so poor that he cannot hope to secure
justice and the benefits to be derived
from the provisions of the Illinois
Workmen's Compensation Law through
the instrumentalities of this quasi-ju-
dicial organization. Many man has
secured these self-same results, in this
manner, without the least assistance or
advice from any attorney at law or
other legal adviser, or personal rep
resentative; many poor person, the
heir of deceased workman, has Sc
cured these same results in this man
ner.
This result is brought about, in many
instances, through the cooperation of
the Board with other organizations,
such as the Legal Aid Society and the
Bureau of Personal Service, which re-
fer cases that come to their attention
to the Industrial Board which prompt
ly investigates with the idea of bring
ing about an amicable adjustment of
the claim without the necessary incon-
venience of a trial. Also by direct CO.
operation with the employer by means
of investigators-personal representa-
tives of the Board.
Is there a man who would dare as
sert that such was the case at Com
mon Law9 Then, how is this brought
aboutH Why, and how is it possible
for people without means as well as
those who are wealthy to Immediately
secure their rights under this lawf
The answer is obvious. 1t is because
the Industrial Board stands as a colos-
sal bulwark between the indiscreet who
would take advantage of the teehni-
calities to do a wrongful act and those
to whom it would be done. That is the
reason.
They say to the employer and to the
employee alike eff you are working
under and subject to the provisions
of the Workmen's Law, you are ex-
pected to obey that law, and to con-
form to the requirements thereof. That
being done, each shall have and receive
all the consideration made possible by
the provisions of that act"
COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD.
The law provides, further that one
member of the Board shall be repre-
sentative of the laboring element; one
the employing class, and one shall be
of neither. All three classes are we'll
represented on the Board at this time.
Representing the laboring class is a
man than whom no person ever took a
greater interest in his work. He is a
regular glutton for work and can be
always found at his desk when not
hearing cases on review. He is one
Of the first to arrive in the morning