Denver labor bulletin., 1918-04-06
HEALTH INSURANCE
NEW YORK ORGANIZED LABOR
ENDORSES 1T.
Law Is Sure to Come, Says James P.
Holland, President of State Fed
Grafton in That State.

"a workmen's health insurance law
compensation came. Organized labor
in New York has unanimously en-
dorsed it. We will keep on fighting
for it until we get it"
With this declaration President
James P. Holland of the New York
State Federation of Labor threw down
the challenge of the workers to oppo-
nents of the Nicoll health insurance
bill, at a hearing on the measure be-
fore the senate judiciary committee at
Albany, n. Y, last week.
The large committee room was
| filled to overfiowing. Keen public in
terest in health insurance was re-
| fiected in the spirited hearing. Rep
resentatives We're present from more
than lis labor organizations of the
state, the City Club of New York and
the American Association for Labor
! Legislation, who assisted the Fedora
ton in drafting the bill, and other
bodies.
Health insurance for wage earners
| is an immediate need emphasized by
the great extent of physical disability
revealed in the draft and the increased
sickness hazards arising out of the
pressure of war upon industries" said
| Commissioner James VI. Lynch of the
state industrial commission, speaking
as chairman of the Federation's COM
mittee on health. I'VE are convinced
that the time is now ripe for the
adoption of this legislation to pro-
tect the workers and their families in
time of sickness. Private insurance
companies, operating for profit, are
absolutely excluded. II has been care
fully prepared to meet labor's needs.
| Trade union and fraternal sickness in
surance is not affected by the bill"
A Health First Movement
1T is now more than ever impor-
tant that we catch up with the allied
countries in legislation to conserve
the health Of the workers. said Sec
rotary John B. Andrews Of the Asso-
citation for Labor Legislation, who re
viewed the rapid progress that public
/ health insurance is making in the
United States Besides the advan-
tages Of health insurance to wage
I earners, employers and the public
growing out Of medical and mater
nifty care and cash benefits, the flnan-
ciai incentive for prevention Of sick
ness will result in great movement
| for health first similar TO safety
first "
Miles ". Dawson, consulting act
uary of New York City, favoring the
/ bill on behalf of the City Club, said
| that sickness is responsible for
seven times as much destitution as in
dustrial accidents and health insurance
will be of even greater benefit than
workmen's compensation, which is now
| everywhere accepted, altho at first it
| met with the same kind Of opposition
that now appears against health in
surance."
Spirit of American Institutions
Answering charges by the opposing
| interests that this labor legislation Is
'.un-American," Rose Schneiderman,
president of the Woman's Trade
| Union League. declared that this
| country was founded on the principle
of caring for the welfare of the peo-
pie. Protective Legislation for labor
1 is in accord with the spirit of Ameri-
can institutions We workers favor
health insurance. including the mater
nity benefits, because it will help to
make the condition of wage earners
/ easier to bear
Among opponents of health insur-
ance appearing at Albany were sew
eral doctors who still fight health in
surance here as it was fought at the
outset FIVE years ago in England,
where the Lloyd George act is now
generally approved by the medical pro
/ fession as well as by the insured
workers.