I propose that our first goal be to cut that in half by the end of the next 3 years.

I am very glad to welcome you here today to this conference on industrial safety.

I have, as you know, too much to do for one man, and in addition to that my daughter came home for the weekend today, and I stayed at home and had dinner with her.

Insofar as government action is concerned, the State governments have the principal responsibility for helping to make workplaces safe.

I hope you will perfect this program in the next few days.

The role of the Federal Government, as I see it, is primarily to stimulate cooperation for safety and to encourage the use of the best methods and standards.

You are meeting in the interest of one of the highest purposes of mankind--to save human lives.

I hope you will want to continue these conferences.

We stand today at the threshold of accomplishment.

I am sure that action will result from this conference--the same kind of action we have been getting from highway safety and fire prevention conferences.

The plain fact is that our Nation cannot afford the needless loss of skilled workers if we are to produce for prosperity in this country and for peace abroad.

When businessmen understand how expensive it is to lose production time as a result of accidents, they will be prepared to make the small investment in equipment, in training, and in supervision that a safety program requires.

When workingmen and women understand the loss of wages and the human suffering that result from work injuries, they will be prepared to cooperate in developing such programs and in observing safety rules.

I hope I am as well thought of, when I go out of office, as you are.

I want to congratulate this organization for showing this mark of respect to the Secretary of Defense.

I hope that he will have a most successful and happy career from now on.

In our democracy an injury to one is the concern of all of us.

The job of reducing industrial accidents is primarily a job for employers and workers.