| Show JOHN MITCHELL CALLS UPON LABOR UNIONISTS TO JOIN IN FIGHT A AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS John Mitchell the labor union leader has taken a strong stand in urging all members of ot labor organizations to help In every way the crusade being made against tuberculosis and the address that he recently r delivered to labor Jabor unionists In the auditorium of ot the inter international International international national tuberculosis exhibition in Philadelphia contains a a message e that is and most vivid and which shows that Mr Ir Mitchell has carefully studied the conditions and Is able to bring forth facts to back up his startling start startling startling ling statements His researches have shown that tuberculosis Is more preva prevalent prevalent t lent In Industrial districts than In others oth rs and he advises the workingmen of oC the country ry to lead clean lives and adopt moderate habits and sanitary cus customs customs customs toms In their personal lives JIves and in their homes He makes the claim which Is backed by statistics painstakingly compiled complIed that there is only one class of ot people in inthis InthIs inthis this country who furnish a greater number num number number ber of ot victims to the great white plague than are furnished by the organized la laboring laboring laboring boring men and that class is the unorganized unorganized workmen In earnest words he laid before his hearers the horrors of the disease explained its ad advance advance advance vance and pointed out the duty that rach each laboring man owed to himself his brothers his class to adopt every eV ry pre pro precautionary precautionary cautionary measure and aid in every possible Pos manner to stamp out the terrible terri terrible terrible ble plague The labor leader asserted that every trade unionist ft whether or not conscious of the fact made war upon tuberculosis whenever instituting a struggle for tor higher wages for shorter hours for bet better better better ter conditions of life and added Whenever any of ot these struggles are successful labor strikes a telling blow against the advance of this destructive malady To point out more specifically and to emphasize e more pointedly the effect against tuberculosis which has in the past come through trade union support Mr Ir Mitchell illustrated his points by re reviewing reviewing viewing the Industry He said laid In 1588 a time when rs were w re employed in unsanitary shops and amidst unhealthful surroundings 51 per percent percent percent cent of ot all members of the union who died were w re victims of tuberculosis tuberculosis losis In 1890 1800 10 40 per cent of all deaths in m this organization or were caused by tu while at the present pre sent time as 35 asa asa I a consequence of at the progressive im improvement Improvement improvement provement In the conditions of employ employment employment employment ment death rate from among the members of the International union has been reduced to 24 per cent In 1888 the average length of the lives of ot members of ot the he union was 31 years 4 4 months and 20 days das in 1905 1903 it was 46 years 10 months and 24 2 days That this marked reduction reduction reduction tion in the death rate from tuberculosis Is due to the Improved conditions sur surrounding surrounding surrounding rounding the lives and the labor of or union rs is clearly demon demonstrated demonstrated demonstrated by the fact that there has been practically no diminution In the number or the proportion of deaths from this disease dl ease among nonunion And what is true of ot the Industry is in large measure true of ot other industries Weak Become Victims In the consideration of this trans transcendently transcendently transcendently Important matter It Is necessary nary sary to understand that tuberculosis finds most of its victims among the men and women who through overwork loss of sleep and underfeeding are physical physically ly and mentally weak and emaciated Tho The strong healthy man who works in inthe Inthe inthe the pure air and 2nd who lives amidst pleas pleasant pleasant pleasant ant happy surroundings Is practically impervious to the onslaughts of the dis disease disease disease ease while his Ills less fortunate fellow fellowman fellowman fellowman man falls an easy victim to it It Is of course not sufficient to combat com combat combat bat the encroachments of at disease and death by these the e efforts alone We should in addition thereto be governed by simple sim simple simple and obvious rules of ot health and conduct Many years ago the American Fed Federation Federation cration of ot Labor inaugurated a move movement movement movement ment against tuberculosis which has been carried forward with marked suc success sucCeSS success cess It has been suggested that while you OU are carrying on your our struggle for a shorter work day for higher wages and for better sanitary conditions In mine mill workshop and home you also ob observe observe observe serve and encourage temperate habits habit and freedom from excesses that you abstain from spitting on the sidewalks sidewalk or on the floors of your rooms or work workshops workshops workshops shops that you be careful to have th the windows open in your bedrooms day daj da and night that you bathe thoroughly thorough and frequently and that under all circumstances cir circumstances circumstances you refuse to eat with soiled hands Do not be afraid to sleep with your yon your windows open When I was young oung w we were taught that the night air was dan dangerous dangerous dangerous This is nothing but superstition tion The beds in which we slept were occupied almost constantly the men who worked on the night shift shIrt taking the beds when the day workers arose This unsanitary condition still prevails prevail i in many industrial communities Mr Ir Mitchell Is an enemy of Intemperance ance lit his speech he made a strong point in urging laboring men to avoId alcoholic excesses stating that to be one cf the most important things of at all Jn in inthe Inthe the fight against tuberculosis He sal said that the notion that whisky prevents cures or checks consumption had long ago been exploded and affirmed that as asa asa asa a matter of record alcoholic drinks had often caused the malady and had In ir Inmany inmany many instances hastened consumptive drinkers to their graves Let me give you ou men this solemn warning said Mr Ir Mitchell in speaking of alcoholic indulgences it will destroy destro not only your health but your charac character ter tor your mind and your YOUl worth as ae a aman aman man He IIo closed his address by urging the organized workingmen of ot the coun country country country try to take a a more active Interest In the crusade against tuberculosis to work through committees from the various unions In cooperating with the Society for the Prevention of ot Tuberculosis am and said The members of this society anc and the men of science and learning cannot canno carry forward this work to the fullest tuition fruition unless the organization of labor gives them loyal support and thorough I cooperation |
