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About The Wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-???? | View Entire Issue (Nov. 18, 1910)
BARBARIC 'AMERICA. Tho Infamous Doctrine of Contribu tory Negligence. The doctrine of fellow servant la Tery important. It means that when any man enters the employ of a greal corporation he becomes responsible foi all the stupidity, carelessness or reck lessness of all his fellow servants. Ht doesn't choose his fellow servants They are chosen for him. but he as sumes all the personal risk wbicl conies from working with them. There is still another doctrine whicl! the law advances to do the injured out of justice. And this doctrine is called the doctrine of contributory negligence and "it is dramatized once for all," says William Hard, "in the case o1 Smith versus Selignian. "Smith, an engineer for the Atchison Topeka and Sante Fe, started off to gel some sleep. lie was called back by the master mechanic. "There was a train of oranges thai had to be hauled to Finto. Smith ob Jected. He said he felt unable to handle an engine. The master me chanic insisted. It was an urgent case. Smith climbed back on his engine. "Smith reached Finto at 3 o'clock thnt afternoon. At 8:30 in the evening he was on his way back to Winslow. "It was then that he committed his act of contributory negligence. He go1 into a collision. "lie hail been on duty thirty hours and thirty minutes. He fell into a doze. He forgot just where he was. He ought to have run his train at thai point off the main track on to a side track. He forgot about it. And in the midst of his contributory negligence another train ran into him. "Smith"s right hand was badly crushed, and' Its subsequent use for purpose of his trade was rendered im possible. He had made the mistake ot dropping off to sleep after more than thirty hours of continuous work. "The court of appeals of Texas did net condone Smith's offense. The court admitted that in Arizona, where the accident happened, there was a law fori) id ding railway companies to work their employees more thau sis teen hours at a stretch. Under that law when a man had worked sixteen hours he was entitled to enjoy nine hcurs rest. "The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe had kept Smith at work for almost tv. 'ce the legal length of time. The At hlscn. Topeka and Santa Fe;was a lawbreaker. "But Smith was a contributory negli gent and hopelessly careless person. His real character was exposed by the ccurt. " 'The allegation,' said the court, that t.'ie laws of Arizona prohibit rail way companies from working their employees for more than sixteen con secutive hours dees not "excuse the contributory negligonce of the appel lant (Smith), which arose from his working such a length of time that he was unfitted for business. He knew his physical condition far better than the railroad company could have known it, and he cannot excuse his carelessness in falling asleep on his engine. The petition presents a clear case of appellant (Smith) having been hurt through his own negligence in stopping his engine on the main line Instead of taking a siding, as he should have done. " Now, that's the whole story. It's the law. It's the doctrine of contribu tory negligence. Smith ought to have known better. Think of a man running an engine along the main, line when he was asleep!. But the courts know their business. Smith get no. sympathy from them. It was cc-itrlbutory negligence that Smith did. and if was his owi fault. An:!, my way, It's the law. Robert Hunter. Millions of Union Labels. The International Union of the Unit ed Brewery Workmen of America re ports that from Sept. 1, 1008. to Sept. 1, 1900, 3S.080.000 union , labels were used; from Sept. 1, 1009. to Sept. 1, 1010. there were 41.930,000 used. The cost of printing and shipping these la bels for the two years was $13,754.03. UNION LABOR NOTES. Union coopers make 90 per cent of all the barrels on the market. . New York lithographers will enjoy the eight hour day on and after Jan. 1. 1911. Recent municipal elections through out England and Wales show a con siderable growth in the labor vote. Many society women of Chicago as sisted the striking garment workers of Chicago. More than a score were arrested by the police for picketing. Expert investigators for the national child labor committee, which has been conducting investigations in Delaware, report the conditions as deplorable. Edwin R. Wright of the Chicago Typographical union has been re-elected president of the Illinois State Fed eration of Labor to serve a fifth term. For trying to form a rival organiza tion the Winnipeg Bricklayers and Masons' union recently sentenced six of its members to pay a fine of $1C0 each. - In view of the great number of un employed nien who are in the Ro magne region. Premier Luzzatti of Italy has decided to begin at once the con struction of provincial and national roads, canals and other public works. Hereafter applicants for positions in Bostou which are classified as the city's labor service must submit to physical examination. The regulation affects common laborers, including boys, skilled laborers and " mechanics and craftsmen, in all many thousands of men. NottJ Use of a Billboard. Duifjg a recent run on a western bank a billboard was set up in the street, where the line of depositors were gathered, and its frank statement of the bank's condition did much to restore confidence. Many peopl drop ped out of the line after reading the sigu. which bore this legend: "This bank can pay every dollar on deposit. It Is one of the strongest banks on the Pacific coast. It has been your friend. Jealous competitors have worked to 1 1 ring you here. Every person in this line should show their loyalty by leaving at once. Your money is safe. Why. then, remain here doing an un kind and foolish thing'; Break ranks." The run lasted thirty-six hours, but the bank stood the strain and remain ed solvent. An enterprising merchant took advantage of. the incident to se cure a novel advertisement tor nis store. It happened that he was pre pared to move into the adjoining build ing and the ptcture of the crowd be fore the bank had the appearance of heading for his new quarters. A cut of this picture was used for his an nouncement, the legend reading. "Your money is safe If you follow the crowd to" giving the name of his own es tablishment. Bookkeeper. A Luxury. "But." objected -the heiress. "I have been accustomed to every luxury." "That's all the more reason why you noitld marry me." replied the linpe . unions suitor. "I'm a luxury myself." v . ... Courage. ' What one needs to cultivate- is, a lenaoity ,f purpose, that will not quail mr vtui ti aside (a courage that in emer inios dares to separate from the crowd, that never recognizes defeat. "?3282 ANT OR GRASSHi After singing merrily all summer and passing away the pleasant hours in idleness, the Grasshopper discovered on th2 arrival of winter that it was up against the real thing. . Thereupon the Grasshopper, having noted the industry of the Ant, hurried to Antville and besought Mr. Ant to Come to the Rescue. Mr. Ant, after reminding Mr. Grasshopper of the wasted hours, ended up by uttering the Merry Ha Ha and retiring to his well stocked bungalow. Ant or Grasshopper? The time to begin emulating the example of Mr. Grasshopper is now. Begin by investing with us a portion of your weekly or monthly wage. While with us your savings are earning you money at the rate of 4 per cent. You would be surprised to know how rapidly interest accumulates. Let it be accumulating for yourself instead of paying it to somebody else. We will gladly explain our system. Ten years successful business is our claim upon your attention. AMERICAN SAVINGS BANK 132 NORTH 11TH ST. 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