Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-03-31

DTlnS CIVIL action WHICH was COStIy
and very uncertain of results.
Until 1929, an apprentice, in most
cases working for small wages, If
permanently or totally disabled, was
compensated on the basis of his
wages, as an apprentice, while, OF
course the, total or partial permanent
disability affected his earning capa-
city throughout his life time. This.
the labor movement, changed so that
at the present time an apprentice who
is totally or partially permanently
disabled is compensated upon the
average of the industry, or in other
words, on the basis of the earning
power of an adult.
Helping the Injured.
The labor movement took the initi-
ative in having enacted the Work
mems Compensation Act. Prior to its
passage in most cases the workers
and dependents bore the full cost of
industrial accidents and disease.
Many of you will remember the argu-
ments advanced by industrial and po-
litical leaders who opposed the adop-
ton of the Workmen's Compensation
Act. They contended that the hazards
OF industry were unacceptable and If
the workers did not desire to accept
those hazards they had no right to
accept employment in the industry.
They further argued that they were
not directly responsible for the acct
dents in the industry, for they were
often caused by the negligence of
fellow workers and that it was pre-
posterous that they, the owners of
industry, should be held responsible
for the acts of another.
However. it was our contention
that the full cost of industrial acct
dents and diseases should not be
borne by the injured workman and
his family That if industry could not
be operated without killing and MAIN
ing workers, that society in general
should bear the expense, rather than
the women and children of the work
err. And that if industry were COM
PEELED to assume the responsibility
and pay the expense of injuries to
workers, they would give consider
able thought to safeguarding the
workers and reduce to a minimum
the accidents in their particular bus
mess.
The history of Workmen's Compen-
sation has fully justified our conten-
ton. Industries have organized and
employed safety experts to the end
that the percentage of industrial ac-
cidents and diseases have been very
markedly reduced.
For Better Wealth Distribution.
The labor movement has now turn
ed its attention to the problem of
stabilizing industry. 1t is our con-
tention that the ultimate solution lies
in a more equitable distribution of
the wealth created by industry.
From 1919 to 1929, the factory
workers yearly income increased by
S165, or IA per cent. The average
factory worker received $1,15S in 1919
and $1,323 in 1929.
The average yearly income of other
groups receiving $4,000 a
year or more-increased by $2,933 or
% per cent (from $13,244 in 1919 to
SIGHT in 1929
During this period, too. the num-
Der of million dollar incomes increas-
ed enormously. A new type of mil
lionaire emerged-One who had an in
come of a million dollars a year, not
simply one who owned that much
property. In 1919, at the peak of the
last great industrial boom, there were
So such millionaires; by 1929 the
number had increased to 513. The in
come paid to these millionaires was
eight times as great in 1929 as in
1919, the increase being from $751;