Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-24
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT Is DOING

wild game. then, plentiful there. but
with the advent of the white man its
natural means of subsistence were dis
sipated. and soon these people became
wandering band of tramps. seeking
odd jobs. but depending largely upon
the charities OF the public.
=! Altogether. their condition appealed
strongly to many of the best citizens
OF Montana. SOME of whom took an
active interest in their welfare. con-
tributing money. time and practical
help.
1t was founc .n1practicable to settle
these Indians upon either public lands
or on existing reservations. nor was
the government able to purchase a
proper reservation for them Suisse
quently a part of the band was settled
on land within the Blackfeet reserva
ton. but the part Of the reservation
designated for the Rocky Boys was not
adapted to agricultural purposes. Partly
on account of this fact and partly ow
ing to tribal antagonism. the majority
of the band refused to remain there
and resumed their former nomadic
habits. It soon became apparent. how
ever. that the Rocky Boy band was
anxious to have n home. to settle down
and become self-supporting. Congress
finally set apart for them three town
ships in the southern part of the Fort
Assiniboine military reservation as a
permanent reservation.
Carrying out the promise to become
self-supporting. these Indians planted
and cultivated gardens with the seeds
and implements furnished them and
worked faithfully. with the result that
they produced a considerable quantity
of hay and vegetables-suff1cient in
fact. to justify a substantial reduction
in the ration allowance provided for In
Al. A.
further evidence of their interest in
these practical benefits which Uncle
Sam had conferred upon them. they
voluntarily sent samples of the vege-
tables grown to the state fair at
Helena as part Of the Indian exhibit.
made. officials of the Indian office say
that there seems to be little doubt
that within asfew years these formerly
nomadic Indians. who were literally
wanderers upon the face Of the earth.
wills be self-supporting, self-respecting
Indians. on the high road to successful
citizenship A sad feature of their his
tory is revealed in the fact that Rocky
Boy. who had for SO many years led
his people through a wilderness of
starvation and despair, died as his band
reached the promised land.
How to safeguard the health of the
1000. 600 workers in Industries produc-
ing war materials.
The Health such as the metal
OF Workers. the mining, rubber,
shipbuilding. chemical. leather and
motor vehicle industries. is Of deep in
terest at this moment, because in a
crisis of this nature the tendency is to
speed up industry at the sacrifice Of
the workers health. Uncle Sam. through
his public health service, is taking this
one knows. of course. that war materi-
ais must be produced in unprecedented
quantities: continuous maximum pro-
duction must be maintained. Under
such pressing conditions. say the health
specialists. the abiding program of
health protection may easily be neglect
ed, and the additional measures neces-
STATED by the influx Of large number
Of temporary workers may not be
taken.
The convincing illustration. it, is
pointed out. Of this danger is the situa-
ton arising in England after they out
break OF the war. The factory laws
Of England contain many wise pro-
visions for the safeguarding Of indus
tries. There is comprehensive system
of Workmen's compensation and n sick
ness insurance law. Women and chill
dren are an especially protected class
Of industrial workers. Nevertheless.
when war began. industry in general
was speeded UP to the breaking point
in the desire to produce maximum
output. At many establishments work
was continuous seven days in the
week. Long periods of overtime were
required. Sanitary precautions or
dinarily enforced were disregarded.
These conditions. say the experts. ag-
gravated by the enlistment Of skilled
Industrial workers. very quickly re-
suited in a decline in output instead
OF an Increase. 1t became evident in
England. as it must be here. that the
health of workers should be guarded.
not only for the conservation of every
also for the purpose of maintaining in
the factories the highest level of pro-
duction over protracted period of
time.
lengthy study has been made of
this Industrial problem by experts
Of the public health service. and they say
as a result Of this study it seems to them
that it is entirely practicable to keep the
health of the workers at an efficient point.
and thus avoid the difficulty in which
England found herself. by steps looking
toward % the prevention of occupational.
diseases and poisonings, (2) the sanitation
OF work places. 90 the prevention Of I'M
due fatigue. 90 the medical supervision
of workers and go the sanitation of in
dustrial communities.
To make the above-outlined program
efficient. it is stated that cooperation is
imperative on the part of the public. the
owners of factories. the workers and the
various governmental authorities, and all
of these have their part to play in thus
increasing the output Of war materials
In connection with the prevention of I'M
due fatigue. 1t is pointed out by these
experts that a prerequisite of maximum
continuous production is that the work
er return to his work completely re-
from the previous days fatigue.
From memoranda made by British au-
thorities. 1t is evident. say our experts.
that we cannot make a blanket rule
which, in emergencies. will apply alike
to all industries. The British health Of
munitions workers committee is of the
opinion that. in the case OF men. for
heavy labor. the maximum weekly hours
of labor cannot exceed flfty-siX without
causing fatigue accumulation: for mod
erately heavy labor. sixty. and for light
labor probably sixty-four. IT is also
found that women have not the capacity
to stand long hours Of work that men
have. The British experience also warns
us. say our own experts, that at least one
days rest in seven is a necessity.
of industrial communities, 1t is said that
only to the environment of the work place,
but also to that of the community in
which he lives. IL IS evident that it would
be of little use to maintain ideal factory
conditions II at the same time the worker
do Ii LIT,