The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-01-13


Resolutions adopted at meeting
of the Duluth. Painters union No.
1O6, Tuesday evening at Browns hall,
put the local Organization on record
as being in favor of the state health
insurance plan, q bill for, which is
expected to be introduced at the pres
ent session. of: the. state legislature. A
copy Of the resolutions will be- in
troduced into the. Duluth Federated
Trades an d Labor. assembly and the
Minnesota, State Federation of Labor
at the next regular meetings Of: these
bodies.
Insufficient wages increasing cost
of living and other causes are given
as reasons in support Of the measure
to provide, for the cases Of sickness
in the ranks Of: the workmen of the
state. The resolutions adopted were
as follows: - -. ,.,....
whereas, Under the present condi-
tions. in the state of Minnesota, as
elsewhere, sickness, accidents or other
disa bility often throw a workingman
out Of work, stop his income, and
place an increased and heavy burden
upon him, reducing him to a condi-
ton where he cannot provide himself
ton, nor provide or obtain the prop
e.. and sufficient clothing and other
necessaries of life for either himself
or his family; and -
whereas, The high cost of living
has seriously affected the already linn
tied financial capacity Of the work.
ing population. to make such previ-
sion for themselves, and has seri-
ously impaired their living conditions,
and
.'whereas: : Under the present
schedule of ;ra1ss. and especially
because of the said high cost: of living,
1t becomes almost impossible for any
workingman to lay aside any part OF
his earnings as savings, and becomes
absolutely impossible for him in every
case to lay aside such sum as will
protect and maintain him, and tide
him over in a case Of serious physi-
cal disability; and - =
Whereas, The ordinary working
man cannot by his own resources
maintain sufficient insurance and fra
ternal aid, or other means, to so pro-
tect: and maintain himself or tide
himself over; and
Whereas. In; the state of Mime
sofa, as elsewhere, the meager means
instituted by the state, the commun-
lty or by society in: general, such as
the workmen's compensation laws,
have proved: themselves inefficacious
and inadequate to so protect and
maintain the workman, and
whereas, Society realizes its moral
duty, both to, the working popula-
ton and to itself, to keep them
healthy and able; and
whereas, Society and the employ
ing class realize, or must realize, the
financial advantage Of thus keeping
Its working population healthy and
able, as would be proved to them by
reducedpoor farms and othefcharit-
able institutions. decreased sanator-
lums, insane asylums and penal in
stitutions, and increased capacity for
work for the workers; and,
: whereas, There is now in oper-
alton In Europe, notably in England,
Germany and the Scandinavian coun-
tries, law for the purpose and OBJ
oect OF providing for and maintain
ing a worktngman and his family in
case Of physical disability of what
ever sort, which law has admirably
succeeded in it's object, even to the
extent OF 1engthening life; and
whereas, The American Assocfa-
ton for Labor Legislation has issued
a draft of anssact or law for such
protection, provision and maintenance
OF the working class as hereinbefore
indicated under the title of Health
insurance in which draft, have been
incorporated the ea1utary provisions
Operative, .tn' Europe: =: ~
Now, therefore, be It resolved, BY
the Painters loea]sunicp. No. loe. and
81. vIxsfA Z s. !. Z. & i s TT -.