Daily Kennebec journal., 1921-07-13
THE ASSOCIATED
INDUSTRIES ENDORSE
PUBLIC HEALTH WORK

secretary or yne Associated industries
of Maine, in letter sent out Tues
day TO the members of the association
says that the Maine Public Health
is just now making an ef-
fort to get the necessary funds to
carry on its operations and will ask
the manufacturing interests to render
some financial assistance.
"It therefore seems to be an oppor-
tune time to bring to your mind cer-
tain conditions either existing or not
improbable in anticipation affecting
the relations between employer and
employe," says Judge Cleaves in his
LAS a basis proposition there is no
more reason why there should be any
feeling of antagonism between the en-
ployes in plant employing 1000 men
and women and their employer than
there should be the same feeling be-
tween a farmer and his one hired
man." continues Judge Cleaves.
1T would be intolerable if each
morning and during each day the far
mer's hired man should either openly
or covertly damn the farmer, and
should so conduct himself as 10 justify
the farmer in damning the hired man.
"Ordinarily each thinks that the
other is a little bit the best in his line
that exists in the community. While
of course it is a much more difficult
problem to maintain the same feeling
between the employer and larger and
somewhat dissimilar group in u man
ufactory employing 1000 people. rela-
lively the situation ought not to be
materially different.
Our labor situation here in Maine,
/ need not remind you. is vastly bet
ter than in almost any other state. At
a conference, which attended in New
York last month, 1 was surprised to
find the innumerable difficulties be-
tween workers and their employers. In
quiry led me TO believe that very much
of the trouble is due, not to the work.
ers themselves. but to the mistakes
and misconceptions of duty on the part
of the So-called labor leaders.
The fact that we in Maine are not
especially unionized is due in my
judgment, to the fact that conditions
are such that there is no particular
need felt by the workers for unions,
and the absence of that form of organ
iZation, and the troubles which" very
frequently follow, is due to the meth
DDS employed by manufacturers and
the better quality of our employees.
But insidious Influences are constantly
at work, attempts are continually be-
ing made to unionize various crafts,
propaganda is being distributed among
the workers, and it is up to the manu-
facturer 10 maintain conditions so
that this propaganda will not fall upon
certain soil. This association is one
of the instruments which it is hoped
you will find useful in creating and
maintaining conditions which are in
your interest.
"One of the matters to which the
workers and their employers every
where are now giving serious atten-
ton is the matter of health Not only
the manufacturers, but others who are
somewhat intimately connected with,
or interested in. industry. are giving
this matter attention. One of the
largest industrial insurance scompa-
MES now furnishes as a part of the
service required under their policy a
rehabilitation department and a health
department. One of the larger life in.
surance companies performs the same
service.
In the health department an educa-
tlonal campaign is carried on among
the workers within the factory in CO.
operation with the insured manufac-
turer whose premium is leSsened be-
cause of this cooperation on his part.
and the direct benefits which beth the
insurance company and the manufac-
turer have bc2n shown to secure are
indeed very great. II is now consid-
cred settled that the health of the
worker, both inside and outside the
factory, is of consequence to the en-
pioyer not only as humanitarian
proposition but as a matter of cold
dollars and cents
The Maine Public Health Associa-
ton is cooperating with the Maine De-
partment of Health. The State de-
partment has no funds except those
necessary to carry on its statutory
duties, and can only render certain
advisory services. The Maine Public
Health Association will assist active
N IN suggestion and instruction along
these lines. and plans to put into the
hcld persons who are capable and in
formed in health matters
In many localities other nurses are
employed either upon full time or pa IT
time to instruct that portion Of the
workers family who care for the homo
with reference to matters Of health
ana nome economics, upon the theory
that the workers home life must be
right in order for him to receive the
1ull benefit of the attention which js
beng given to his health in the fac
tory
Il have been asked to carefully po
over the general set-up of the Maine
PuoIlc Health Association and its
working arrangement. l have done so,
and feel that it is worthy of our SUD-
port. l have been asked to act and
nave consented to act as one of tbe
trustees, and shall therefore be some
what intimately in touch with the AS
sociation's operations.
i am not undertaking to in any way
control your judgment, but am calling
your especial attention to this matter
as l believe we all realize it's i'm.
poftance, and ask You to give il dine
consideration and such support as Won
feel your situation warrantsn