The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1916-01-06
MUST GUIDE PATH OF MINORS
Attorney Who Has Made Close Study of
Great Industrial Problems Pays Trib-
pte to Industrial Commission and
Shows New Conditions.

That the foremen in the great indus
trial plants are the real personal equa-
tim in the development Of the great
Safety First" movement was the cen
trail thought of a notable address made
hcfole the Kenosha Safety Round Ia
bic at the Elks Club on Tuesday night
by Attorney Chester d. Barnes. Few
men in Wisconsin have been so closely
in touch with legislation for the benefit
of the industrial concerns and the work
ing men than Mr. Barnes and he spoke
as one having authority. There was no
idea of conflict between Mr. Barnes
and the Industrial commission and the
Compensation act. On the other hand
Mr.. Barnes paid high tribute to the
work of the Industrial commission and
referred to the fact that the compensa-
tion act had done more than any thing
else to bring to Wisconsin manufacture
ers the real idea of safeguarding their
plans for the conservation of the energy
Of their Workmen.
Mr.. Barnes was to have spoken on
minors but in his talk Of nearly an hour
he referred to many interesting statu-
tory provisions in regard to the indus
trial life of the community and the
state, He spoke Of the laws regarding
the employment Of minors and made a
comparison Of the immaturity Of the
minor employee and the older man. He
showed that it was the duty of the fore
men Of the plants to enforce laws to
bring safety.
At one time" said Mr.. Barnes,
"the main duty of factory owner was
to keep the inspector out. Now the fac
tory man welcomes the coming of the
state inspector and finds in him his
best friend. The central theme of mod
ern industrial life is cooperation. The
men who operate the factories are glad
to welcome cooperation with the state
or any other agency which will make
their business safer and increase the
efficiency Of the men employed.
The compensation act establishing ar
bitrary liability for injuries has taught
the manufacturer great lesson and
has put a real value on efficiency and
safety. The central idea of men who
operate industries now is not to save
money but to save lives and limbs.''
Mr. Barnes reviewed at some length
the development of the safety idea and
the adoption of safety appliances.
"Safety appliances in themselves are of
little value,'' he continued. sit is the
use of them that prevents accidents and
the foreman of the factory is the man
who must see that these appliances are
used. In many cases employees not
only refuse to use the appliances of
safety but they even take them off. The
foremen come in right here as the big
gest personal equation of the Safety
First Movement. They must insist on
these appliances being used. The fore
man must be the real Safety First agent
His close contact with the men and
their work makes it possible for him to
see better than any one else the demands
for conservation of his men and he more
than any one else has the power to make
and keep plant safe.
The address of Mr.. Barnes was filled
with many interesting citations of laws
covering the operation of the big indus
trial plants of the state and it proved
of greatest interest to the sixty factory
leaders who attended the meeting. A
social hour followed the address.