Evening journal., 1916-01-27
continned from First Page.


workingman. The burden in case Of ac-
cident should be distributed and not be
allowed to be left TO the wives and chill
drcn TO bear.
There were some things in the laws
of Delaware. Mr. Wolcott said, that
needed TO be done away with so that the
workingmcn might be properly looked
after He said that while not actually
In the labor movement. he had glimpses
inside labor circles which showed him
that Mr. Compers, in his administration
of the affairs of the great American
Fedcration of Labor, was always array
ell against lawlessness in the labor
movement and always endeavored to
keep IL free from anarchism and pre-
vent il getting ia the clutches of the
Socialist propaganda.
The following letter from United
States Senator Willard Salisbury, in
which he stated his inability 10 he pres
cnt on account of illness and gave his
views on workmen's compensation, was
read.
January Fl, 1916.
John c. Saylor. Esq, Secretary,
Central Labor Union.
Wilmington, Del.
Dear Mr.. saylor:
have your letter enclosing me a
ticket for the banquet to be given TO
Hon. Samuel Gompers, in Whining
ton. which have been hoping
could find It possible to attend, but
I am sure it will be impossible be-
cause I have not yet recovered from
quite a long continued grippe attack
which has prevented me up TO this
time from attending even the sessions
OF the Senate
would particularly like to meet
tho labor organizations OF Whining
ton on such an occasion as this be-
cause there are some matters in
which ! know they are deeply inter
csted about which / would like
10 talk with them and to which
wish you would address their
attention. 1t has been a matter Of
deep concern to me that we have not
been able in Delaware to bring our
legislation regarding employer and
employe into better accord with the
prevailing humanitarian sentiments
OF the people Of this country as evi-
have been made everywhere else prac-
tically i'm the country the rela-
tions between master and servant. AS
you probably know, at session after
session of our State Legislature, /
have endeaVored to secure these
statutory notifications Of the harsh
rulings OF our courts which still en-
force In all their inhumane vigOr the
early rulings Of the courts of this
country i'm cases between master and
servant where the defense Is contrihu-
tory negligence. negligence OF a fell
lOw-seryant and assumption of risk.
The time has long passed in the
minds of thoughtful men when II
should be possible TO enforce against
an injured workman In a suit the rul-
ings which are still maintained by
our courts. although our courts as
YOU will recognize must follow these
ancient cases. The principle on
which these cases we're decided origi
nally have long since ceased to have
sensible application TO modern busi-
ness conditions. and yet IL has beer
impossible for those of us who de-
sire to do so TO obtain the necessary
statutory notifications OF these de-
cisions through the action Of Our
Legislature.
have endeavored to secure statutes
in Delaware TO bring our law into
conformity with the best modern
thought and practise on the subject,
and I commend to your organization
the earnest effort to bring our law
into accord with modern practise and
feeling on this subject.
There could not be- in my opinion
a greater miscarriage OF justice than
TO hold wOrkmen responsible and i'm
nict upon them and their families the
terrible penalties which can be at
trihuted under our decisions to The
misconduct Of a follow-sefyant who
has never been seen by the injured
person. whose qualifications are en-
tirely unknown TO him and whos'
action or conduct Il is impossible To-
the injured man TO have known o
even complained Of because OF thu
lack of knowledge which workingmel
used 10 have OF their feilow-servant
or employees who work with them un
der their own eyes. Likewise, ] thin
IL should be abhorrent to every fai
an accident upon the workman an
his family where the question is on
OF contributory negligence and the dc
gree Of such negligence is no elemen
I'm preventing a recovery; neither /
il reasonable. i'm my opinion. to fore
upon an injured workman under th
doctrine of the assumption Of risl
the full penalty of an accident wher
practically such risk cannot be ap
preciated, although legally in on
State the workman is bound by tn
theory that the risk is known to him
look forward to the day whe'
Delaware may be abreast Of othe
States OF the Union and OF the gen
eral government in providing eithe
by the modification OF the laws OF mas
ter and servant, or by some compen
sation provisions for the welfare o
our laboring people and their securit,
IN the same degree at least as tina
which protects the capital of the om
ployer.
welcome the opportunity of ex
pressing this thought to YOU an
through you to the organization q
Workmen in the town in which liv,
and ] wish I might have the oppol
tunity when honoring your distir
guished guest brings many OF you Z,
gether to personally express m
views at length on this particular su
ject. Yours very truly,
fSigned) WILLARD SALISBURY.
A letter from Governor Miller. G
pressing his regret at being unable
be present. was also read It follow