6 The First 25 Years Richard L. Drake, Secretary, Michigan Industrial Accident Board “The objects and purposes of the National Association, as expressed, is to bring into closer relation with one another the boards and commissions administering compensation laws in the United States and to effect so far as possible, uniformity in legislation and administration of such laws and give effect to all measures looking toward prevention of accidents and promotion of safety.” Woodbridge N. Ferris, Governor of the State of Michigan “I will say to you that personally I am an enthusiast over this board. I regard it as probably the most important board that the state of Michigan has anything to do with, because it reaches out, touches the home, touches the father and touches indirectly the wife and the children, and is humanitarian from start to finish.” John E. Kinnane, Chairman, Michigan Industrial Accident Board “On account of the comparative newness of the system on the side of the Atlantic, the experience of our boards and commissions which have been engaged in the work is eagerly sought, and a comparison of experiences and a general interchange of ideas and views cannot fail to be of value to all.” C.H. Crowhart, Chairman, Wisconsin Industrial Commission “So I say that if a plan could be devised in some way to bring the men a little closer together with the employers, more good could be accomplished in the prevention of accidents.” Voices from the 1st Annual Convention

7 1914-1938 Professor A.W. Whitney, General Manager, Workmen’s Compensation Service Bureau “No plan of insurance is complete which does not make strongly for prevention. But we go further and believe that the very best preventive work can be done in connection with insurance the preventive work that is set in motion when schedule rating is put in effect is tremendous.” R.R. Doble, Doble & Throckmorton, Aetna Life Insurance Company “The most important factor, gentlemen, is not alone to safeguard the insuring public, but to protect beyond a question of doubt the injured workmen so that they may receive the compensation that is justly due them and bring about a condition wherein the chances of his failing to be compensated properly are removed.“ Floyd L. Daggett, Chairman, Industrial Commission of Washington “Again, the injured workman and his dependents must not be deprived of compensation because his fellow servant has committed a blunder because he has assumed the inherent risk of his employment, or because of some negligent act of his.” Dudley M. Holman, Member, Massachusetts Industrial Accident Board “Today we realize that we are indeed our brother’s keeper- that we owe to him certain duties, that we are all interdependent. Our whole social and moral fabric would fall to pieces if it were not that our lives as employers and employe[e]s are so closely interwoven that a real injury to one does an equal injury to the other, and that we are each responsible to the other.” Voices from the 1st Annual Convention