Document 3NMwRN0ga1xo7NYQKR0NEBbja

FILE NAME: General Electric (GE) DATE: 1931-1933 DOC#: GE031 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Down Letter Collection DOWNS COLLECTION FOLDER 118.9 #2 BOX A- 16A SCHENECTADY MUSEUM, NEW YORK GE MUSEUM 00001 bc>* fradwt Secretary* .] ^'tvfc be:'ore ii& your letter o siurci lith, gkiug at o ruait i- re^osentative lo serve an your v'0;*4..C'i'ilCu uOit .ut] or s o lv in i the olitili .',eui-e> .. ivu^^ f.CwL yo* x.'ivu.tri'; *~ -< p *oaourhp V*if ik-' i*` '-' )--l_i ivi^ii Vj-->^ \i.EjjC*V.L C; ;.c ota- largest viorJi., GtlfcHocUc?y, .-ho i entirely failier is'ith our work on ciiitiosls '....ear.',a. Vfiy truly youre* tjH wurrows iiLVoeburgh (with papers) hiuiiiU SWPL GE MUSEUM 00002 \ V ^ ELECTRIC INTERNAL CORRESPONDENCE A P R --81935 SUBJECT LOCATION REFERENCE Mr. Gerard Swope , President, Pew York Office. ' ,/ ichenectady, Y. Y ., Apr.i-1 // / / 6/13.26. \ - /. / / Dear Mr. Swope: I have just written Mr. \V.J.Donald, Managing Director of the national Electrical Manufacturers1 .Association, that I would./"be glad to represent PTEMA at the Conference to he held in Washington, April 14, relative to silicosis. I.shall report to you regarding important matters arising from these conference s . Very truly yours, BLV.-C WRBurrows E.L.VOSBURGH, M.D. GE MUSEUM 00003 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY W A SH IN G TO N April 2, 1936 1 ^ ' ' :: .1 ' / ' Mr. Cerer Swop-?., President, Cenerai Electric- Oor.cpe.ny, 570 Lexington Avenue, New York, IT. Y. Deer Mr. Swope: In accordance with the suggestion contained in your letter of March 27, I have written to Dr. B. L. Vosburgh inviting him to attend the meeting cf the National Conference Committee on Silicosis which will be held in Washington, April 14-. A copy of my letter to Dr. Yosburgh is enclosed. I am hopeful that he will find it possible to attend and learn at first hand the plans that are being de veloped. While the actual work of the Conference must later be done by small committees> Dr. Vosburgh undoubtedly has valuable data and suggestions which will be of greet assist ance to these committees in their 7ork. p V , Very truly yours, GE MUSEUM 00004 HARVARD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH 'NDVSTRIAl TOXICOLOGY December 14 , 1933 55 VAN DYKE STREET BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS Hr, Gerard Swope President, Gen-ral 21 ectric Co 120 Broadway Nei? York, N. Y. Dear Gerard There are two things about which, I want to, write you. The first has to do with a 3rcung man, Paul Pigor, who is a nephew by marriage of Dr. Richard Cabot and was sent by him to rne to ask for my help in connection with the German sociological journal, entitled "Sociologue." I think he has already spoken to you about it and all I need say is that I think it would be an excellent thing to save this journal and to make it a really international journal published in this country. The second thing has to do with the General Electric Company. As you know, Philip Drinker and I nave withdrawn as consultants for the-last two years because we both felt that our services were not necessary enough to keep on during the depression, when the one important thing is to keep men employee." There is, however, a matter we think should, be attended to now. This is the Question of asbestos dust. If has lately come into prominence because a combina tion of not very scrupulous lawyers and doctors have been pushing civil suits against certain companies for alleged injury from asbestos. The Johns-Mansville Company and. the Hultibestos ha.ve had a grea.t deal trouble from such claims, many of them I believe quite justified, but not all. Now' you have asbestos duet in Bridgeport and in York. I think you fold me that the York plant was destined to be closed in the near future. Still that would not prevent the bringing of suits. I think the only safe think to do is to ha.ve the situation looked over by Philip Drinker and dust counts made, so that if suite do develop you will be pre pared in advance. Perhaps you will take this up with--Phil ip Drinker himself. Sincerely voure, Cl l l GE MUSEUM 00006 i-T&il-lellic0a;.1- riik.H:a.'j..1i.11".ori l'.'-i: i. : ' V . V', >1t.V 1 i k;,-r:. ly k e I ir vi., l o ;?t o n ; ilii-t1<a-.r. : r i i.? Il:rr Dr* -.siItoli( TUanl yoa ior vir.-..- vis- i:; nini io wrioi';. u-:. r 1 c i 1 ?:. i :...>' ri.-p.'J'.' ti r.'k/'iOi elisiti 1 ivnr<r; teiii'.-c. Ivo Ir : ., V;o e-O'rc. . : li ci" siiDrc.Ciring farci -; i'r.lrir}- Tour r-ii.le a ;;nx! oiftj enc;, f f " e: rr- > ve vrc-'iLl ' l i : 10 r i t c . J r 7 .l'jf't-j. '"brvjri li' jc -u thnk. 1. a r . v n.r,r -itu.-rlio-n lo aoiirrc; ilio i of Ir i'virrV r or v-rr-':';-vi:',".., li. vili v..,, rio. or a, ut? t i tir..,- t i e c . Tire v:. i:>o.: w oo av s1?. ore oelni :..:: --v ;o . o r >.* lorr-ic-c l e i - ' -Volli r r l ' ~ ' l M' A r a .'.vtovl ai ic-r.lort 1era oar lin! orli .-'o.; li'irl;lr.yi oen a a viali i.riuicO;: -, ;>.? :i* ir 0 0 ; ,:>.r rie?, rlv? lo ir ve ..1.'V r rcport. heve vc-..> "or '.vili Vu? iriilj youre* GERARD- S70PE WRBurrovs GE MUSEUM 00007 o p t o f t h d j c iixtja- o p tiid o.nEfY c c p p c i l dip h e a l t h a t a c t i c a : i:: AIE FHSSIA.E Dl^TILO. The nature of the investigation covered 'by the report vus more or less scientific and carried on under the direction -of msdicc.1 men, Doctors, Tinslcw ana Oreensburg, much of which data is of a controversial character. there has developed since report was presented for adoption op the Administrative Council of tlx- national' Safety Council, -very strong protest by trie foundry industry on the premise that the industry did not have proper representation on committee and much of the field data secured which was the hasis of report was not made public to foundry industry and was conducted under conditions not in keeping with good practice for the Blasting Operation as viewed by the industry. Heport was held up by the Administrative Council for (60) days to allow a reviewing committee of foundry interests to present their case which will be done June 13th in dew York. There seems to be much evidence secured by the foundry interests which would indicate that Drs. Winslow and Gre ensburg are insistent that their report be accepted and published by either the national Safety Council or the Federal Department of Health In either case, if published in it3 present form, would no doubt cause the foundry industry to face very heavyexpense in defending law suits which would be prompted by the unethical lawyers or Dr, ana cuase at this particular time a very detrimental effect on business niw in very serious condition "The Hew York Sun of play 23, 1S32 says, sixteen (16) cases representing suits for 51,600,000 have been started in Eoch ester, J.Y. and two (2) in liassaclmsetts - alleging that men contracted Silicosis through wearing defective apparatus while sand blasting." This is the type of cases which we might expect all. over the country if tire report in question were issued or allowed to be released for publication The foundry.industry, through their committee which is to meet with the Administrative Council of the rational Safety council the 15th, are to present very concrete evidence of the Foundries interest in doing everything possible to protect and safeguard its employees and begin a vigorous educational campaign to accomplish, this end. It is their belief that the report should not be published but commence by educational means to bring about a better condition. Have talked with LIr. G.H.Sanford in Schenectady tins morning who has the report and is in-full accord with the above suggestion, that report should not be published, in fact he was a prime mover in holding it up in larch, this year. He i3 to abstract the report and present it to Hr. Simmons for his use. Incidentally llr. Sanford is a past president of the h.s.C. and a member of tie Administrative Council. GE MUSEUM 00008 P SC 610 ENT s. W E L L S U T L E Y "HE D E T R O IT S T E E L C A S T IN G C O M P A N Y DETRO IT, MICH. D IN vice-pflcsioCNT CACjl H . H O rF S T E T T E R ST O V E M A N U FA C TU R IN G COMPANY C R IE , PA. P '6 3 3 GRAND C EN T R A I. TERM IN A L L1 E P H O N E M U R R A Y H I L L 2 - 5 8 6 4 Tr e a su r e r C E N T R A L R E P U B L I C D A N K A N O' T R U S T C O M P A N Y CHICADO C oH M iineN ca E .M fCUNTO CK S ecretary U. M .T A Y L O R . C H IC A G O 2 9 ORGANIZED I 96 genera l o f f ic e . SOUTH LA SAL L E STREET TELEPHONE FRANKLIN 2 6 2 9 May 27, 1932 Mr. Nelson J. Darling, Manager General Electric company, West Lynn, Mass. Dear Mr. Darling: NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL Report on Health protection in Sandblasting and Metal Abrasive Blasting You are, no doubt, more or less familiar with the above mentioned report with reference to foundry dust hazard. On dune 13th, the E x e c u t i v e and A d m i n i s t r a t i v e Board of the N a t i o n a l S a f et y c o un c i l will h o l d a m e e t i n g in New Yo r k to decide whether or not the report shall be p u b l i s h e d as o r i g i n a l l y w r i t t e n or in amend ed form. Many of the members of the National Founders Associa tion y/hom we have consulted in the matter, feel that in view of the agitation and litigation pending and threatened by persons v/ho claim to have had their health impaired due to foundry dust, smoke, gas and vapors, this is no time for the National Safety Council, or any other organization, to bring out a report emphasizing the hazard of foundry dust, as such a report will only add fuel to the flames, is liable to cause unlimited expense and damage to the foundry industry, and at this time can serve no use ful purpose.- We feel, therefore, that this report should be held in abeyance by the National Safety Council, and the whole subject be given further c o n sideration.. There is a rumor to -the effect that Dr, c . E . A. Winslow, professor of Public Health, Yale Medical School, New Haven, Conn., one of the authors of the report for.the National Safety council, and Dr. Leonard Greenburg,' formerly of the united States Department of Health, have been engaged by the American Radiator Company to do considerable re- GE MUSEUM 00009 K . J D #2 search work for them, prof, Winslow and are particularly insistent that the above port be released for publication. pr ,. creenburg mentioned re Executives of the Gene ral E l e c t r i c Company, we know, are in r at h e r close c o n t a c t with. r. C. M. Woolley, P r e s i d e n t of the A m e r i c a n R a d i a t o r co mp a ny , and the p u r p os e of this let te r is to r e q u e s t y o ur a s s i s t a n c e in rea ch ing prof. Wins low and Dr, Greenburg, t h rough Mr, Woolley, and point out to them the r e a s o n a b l e n e s s of the request of the foundry industry that this report be h el d in a b e y a n c e and g i v e n f u rt h e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n . Mr. C. E . Hoyt, of the A m e r i c a n F o u n d r y m e n 's A s s o c i a t i o n , has just c al le d to m y a t t e n t i o n t he e n c l o s e d copy of a news item f r o m the N e w Y o r k sun of May 23rd, with reference to eighteen suits invo l v i n g $ 1, 60 0 , 0 0 0 aga in st Ro chester, N. Y., and M a s s a c h u s e t t s concerns, by indivi duals who claim to have had their h e a l t h impaired due to dust conditions. Y o u r Mr. B al l ar d is qu i te f a m i l i a r w i t h this subject and also with the^alarming number of damage suits no w pend ing in the Midd le west. It se e ms to us that any report spread^broadcast by the Mational S a f e t y C o u n c il c a l l i n g a t t e n t i o n to s i l i c o s i s or the danger from foundry dust, smoke, gas and vapors, can serve no useful pu rp o s e at th e pre se nt time, and in all p r o b a b i l i t y will tend to promote more widespread and extended litigation. This past week, one of our.members in W i s c o ns in has s u c c e e d e d in w i nn i n g a suit for da m ag es brought by a m o l d e r who claimed impaired h e a l t h due to silicosis, but who had n e v e r been e m p l o y e d in the Cleaning Department. The expense of the l i t i gation, however, will p r o b a b l y cost the C o m p a n y in excess of $ 15 ,000, as they w e re o b l ig e d to b r i n g in some of the most eminent p h y s i c i a n s in the United states to support their case. It is u n n e c e s s a r y for me to m e n t i o n to y ou the active interest the N.F.A. has taken for more than 25 years in p r o m o t in g s a f e t y i n . t he foundr y, as your Company has played a very important part in the A s s o c i a t i o n ' s work in this regard. We feel that if prof. Winslow and Dr, G re en burg would not insist that this report be published, which they were largely i n s t rumental in preparing, that the Admini s t r a t i v e Board of the GE MUSEUM 00010 i: j b #3 National Safety council could be induced to hold the matter in abeyance and give the subject further consideration. GE MUSEUM 00011 (P ro m New Y o r k S u n , M o n d a y , May 2 3 , 1 9 3 2 ) 10 ASK #1,6.00,000 AS S I LICOSIS PR EY Lawyer Says sand Blasters ylll Die of Malady R o c h e s t e r , May 23 (A. F .) D a m ag e a c ti o n s i n v o l v i n g total claims of $1,600,000 have been started here by sixteen Rochester and two Massachusetts men who allege that they contracted silicosis through wearing defective protective apparatus while sand-blasting for two local concerns , The Merchants Despatoh Transportation C o m p a n y is n a m e d as d e f e n d a n t in f i fteen of the a c t i o n s and the Eastman Kodak Company in one. The Massachusetts plaintiffs are George Valliere of North Adams and John H. M i l l e r of v oroester. Their attorney, W i l l i a m L. Clay, says that the men eventually will die of the malady. They seek 00,000 each. Defendant attorneys in some of the actions m a i n t a i n that the cas es are c o v e r e d by the w o r k m e n ' s c o m p e n s a t i o n law, w h i l e Uf, Clyde O ' Br ie n , r e p r e s e n t i n g the E a s t m a n K o d a k C om p a ny , has m o v e d for d i s m i s s a l of the complaint against that concern on the ground that the c o m p a n y is c o v e r e d by i n s u r a n c e a g a i n s t s u ch a claim. GE MUSEUM 00012 INDUSTRIAL TOXICOLOGY HARVARD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH IIS <W & ! Oi 55 VAN DYKE STREET o ABOS'TON, MASSACHUSETTS j r . r y 8, if; Gerard Swope, Presi lent General '"l" o !om/.an,: 8VO Lexington 1 venue lev; York, IT. 1 . Lear Mr. Swooe:- I have been talking over with Philip Drinker the problem of asbestos oust in the four plants -of the General Electric lornpany that you mention. In view of the fact that I am to attend a conference oi physicians called by Dr. Yosburgh, in Schenectady, on the 25th and 26th cf this month, at which Dr. Gardner of Saranac, one of the foremost experts on dust diseases, is to be present, I should like to postpone what 1 have to say on the matter until after discussion with the General Electric physicians and Dr. Gardner. I will therefore write you again about the end of this month. ' Sincerely yours, flice Hamilton LI. D. GE MUSEUM 00013 a-x* ! GENERAL ELECTRIC INTERNAL CORRESPONDENCE su b je c t LOCATION REFERENCE REPORT ON HEALTH PROTECTION IN SAND BLASTING AND METAL ABRASIVE BLASTING TO / NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL BY ' DR. C. E. A. WINSLOW DR. LEONARD GREENBURG River Worksjxfest Lynn, J u n e U , 1932 Mr. Gerard Swope, President, N ew York. Dear Mr. Swope: The_ authors of the above report wish to hav at an early date. / / publish d". The Foundry industry, through the National FotujcHirs^ Association, are not entirely in accord with the findijj^s and recommendations of this report and are requesting the'national Safety Council to delay its publication to permit an agreement. The publication of this report in its present form, at this time, the foundry industry believe will bring about unfair and unnecessary legislation, as well as suits based on claims for alleged impaired health instituted by unscrupulous lawyers and doctors, entailing needless expense to the foundry industry for defense. The American Radiator Company has engaged the authors of this report - Dr. C. E. A. Winslow, Professor of Public Health at Yale Medical School, and Dr. Leonard Greenburg, formerly of the U. S. Department of Health, to do research work for it. Mr. A. E. McClintock, Commissioner of the National Founders Association, asks that we solicit Mr. C. M. Tfoolley's interest and assistance to prevail upon Doctors Winslow and Greenburg to delay the publication of their report pending an agreement between the National Founders Association and the National Safety Council with the authors as to a proper amended report. On June 13th the Executive and Administrative Board of the National Safety Council meet in New York to decide whether the report shall be issued in its original or amended form. These facts I presented to Mr. Burrows when he was here on Thursday. He suggested I write you with the thought that if you felt so disposed you would present the situation to Mr. Woolley. GE MUSEUM 00014 ) n GENERAL ELECTRIC INTERNAI CORRESPONDENCE M r. G erard Swope June 4, 1932 2 We have found a disposition on the part of the Massachusetts Workmen's Compensation Board to hold the industry responsible for cases of impaired health if it is found that the claimant has worked in a foundry, even though he may never have been subjected to sand blasting. I have not read the report. Mr. G. E. Sanford, Safety Engineer for our company, has studied it carefully. He believes it should not be published, in its present form. He was instrumental in holding up its publication when it was first presented in March. Attached is Mr. McClintock's letter of May 27th, and Mr. E. H. Ballard's memorandum of June 1st. Tours very truly, NJBarling EJM Enc WRBurrows M T t T N * t MW. R U N * MM* I* w.t 1 GE MUSEUM 00015 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY GENERAL OFFICE SCHENECTADY, N . Y . 1 River Road SCHENECTADY, N. Y. June 25th, 1951 Ur. Jams8 F. Harris, Secretary to Mr. G. Swope, General Electric Go., 120 Broadway, Dew York City, N. Y. ( ^ , Bear Ur. Harris: - I hare your letter of June 23rd together with correspondence from Br. W. G. Lewi. I have talked with Br* Lewi at great length and also corresponded with him regarding the proposition set forth in his various reports. He seems to have an ax to grind with the rest of the medical profession and much of the world at large. While his reports would indicate wonderful success in the treatment of hay fever and asthma at the General Electric Company in 1925, 1 do not recall that Br. Staith nor any of the rest of us were so enthusiastic about the results. It strikes me that his having been allowed to carry on this work was a mistake that may prove somewhat embarrassing to cover up. Without going into the meritB of his treatment it seems to me that any method of genuine merit would have been taken more kindly to and would have found its place in medical amamentoria :within a period of five or six years especially when exhorted by one so enthusiastic as Br. Lewi. I believe it was in February when he first approached me on the subjeot of obtaining Mr, Swope's friendship and financial aid for the work and 1 told him I expected to see Mr. Swope in March or April and would talk with him about the matter. It so happened that I had little opportunity to talk with Mr. Swope during those months and the matter slipped my mind. GE MUSEUM 00016  LV GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY. -2- Mr, James F. Harris In Dr* Levi's letter to you of June 20th he intimates that he would, like to oarry on his experimental work here again this year while in his letter to Mr. Swope he states that he would like to get answers from all of the cases treated in 1925 and he would press the Social Service Department of the various plants to make contact with the patients treated six years ago. It strikes me that neither of his propositions re practicable for many more hay fever and asthma patients are available in the clinics in Hew York G ^ y ailthough Dr. Lewi will tell you that the men fn oharge of these clinics will not give him even the chance to prove the value of his type of treatment. Furthermore, if the reports published by Dr. Lewi on the results of his treatments have failed to gain recognition of the medical profession at large, it seems to me that more reports from miBsing or deliquent patients will prove equally valueless. I should not care to be quoted as freely as I have written you regarding this matter. BLYtS Very truly yours, B. 1. Yosburgh, M. D. GE MUSEUM 00017