The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-06-10
STATE INSURANCE
IS MISREPREsENTED
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ton acquainted with the work of Doc
tor Rubinow and his presentation of
the facts az they are with reference to
social insurance? Does the Fedora
ton know that New York, and Illinois
are now getting ready to adopt social
insurance and that other states have
some forms Of it? Why does the chief
statistictan for the Ocean Accident
and Guaranty Corporation devote a
book to a propaganda for social insur-
ance7
1.-THE Federation touts the compen-
sation act and it's benefits, but why
did the casualty companies squeal and
squirm when that law was proposed?
VIII they tell the voters that actuarial
bases were to become disturbed? Is
1t not g. fact that our courts had so
interpreted the laws relating to en-
ployers liability that these same cas-
ualty companies had been enabled to
50 raise premium rates that the en-
ployers. thought them prihobitory
enough to adopt the compensation act
with a lower basis of rates for the
risk? Did the, federation members
want the law because Of the benefit to
the workman or because Of the in
creased amount of business in sight
for them?
Protects Poor Workmen,
state insurance will not and does
not aim to affect legitimate insurance
business and comanpies. They reach
those who can afford to pay the prem
iums that pay dividends and leave
SURPRISES that can be invested in cor
nering public utility enterprises and
banking pursuits.
State insurance aims to protect |
the industrial workman who can
not afford to buy insurance Of any
kind, by reason of exorbitant prem
iums that have little if any actuarial |
basis. It is these workmen who are
the paupers or who become the pau |
pers in time or whose families seek !
the charity aid societies to which the |
Federation members so nicely and |
handsomely contribute and for whose
self respect the Federation is so solicit |
tious for fear they will be classed with !
the wards of the state that are in in |
stitutions. The fact that workmen are
given adequate protection on SELF |
respecting basis does not class them |
with dependents and delinquents and !
incompetents under the ordinary rules |
Of human reasoning. The fact that |
the state contributes to this is only a. |
truer indication of the evolution of a !
social conscience and that the purpose |
Of organized government is beginning !
on the dawn of a new era of civiliza- |
ton to fulfill its purpose.
1.-THE Federation need fear little |
that $4,000 citizens will lose employ |
ment, for their services will always |
be in demand either in their own in |
terests or in the interests Of the pub !
lie. The farmers when enlightened
will not oppose state insurance but |
will rather welcome It because the i
blind, the crippled, and the dependent |
will be getting their aid in insurance
rather than In institutions and the
cost will be merely transferred from |
one fund to another. The State Fed
Grafton Of Labor is not dominated by !
the socialist element in this matter,
there rather seems to- be choice |
unanimity Of opinion. Not only that !
but also the labor commissioners seem
to have gathered enough data to con-
vince the most skeptica1 that state in
surance and that social insurance pro-
grams are the thing of the day and |
the need of our existence in a COM
plexity OF industrialism.
Legislature To Act.
Insurance Federation or no Insur- !
ance Federations, progress waits not |
for men and minds Circular letters,
weeping appeals, scary articles, base
less conclusions, unfounded suppose !
tions, have not the might of the logic !
and will of a suffering age. Need and |
will and facts make for progress and |
the next legislature, let US will it, shall |
enact g. good wholesome program of !
social insurance legislation guided by !
sober thought an the facts as they are |
and let the cringing Insurance Fed !
Grafton of Minnesota take heed lest a
vindicated principle of human exist !
ence put it to shame for it's reaction |
ary cave period logic and thought.
"HYMEN z. WENDELL,