The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-10

Starting later than did the United
States in the policy of fostering, Ger
many has run with swifter feet and
reached the point at which we are sure
to come if nothing occurs to check the
momentum and stop our progress in
paternalism. Conditions were more
favorable there than here; the paternal
government, the habitual attitude of
the public mind growing out of gen
erations accustomed to familiarity with
such concept of government, a general
acquiescence in the theory Of the divin-
1ty of kings, necessitating acceptance
Of the idea of the omn1scient wisdom
of government. all made it easier for
the planting, cultivation and rapid
growth Of the policy of providing en-
ployment for some at the cost of ALL
When the spirit Of Democracy becomes
Quenched in this country, and public
sentiment becomes corrupted every
where by this coddling of every selfish
ana every sentimental interest, we too
will be in condition to run the race
and reap the results of this policy
which Germany has run and is reaping,
Where paternalism in the United
States has halted Germany has gone
logically forward. Where we have pro-
vided for manufacturers, trusting them
to provide for their workingmen, Ger
many has provided for both. Our pre-
tense is contrasted with her sincerity.
If she has not yet ventured on the
step of compelling, by the regulation
Of wages, the division of the gains
given her manufacturer by the tariff.
she has compelled him to share the
loss occasioned by accident, sickness
and old age. Mr.. Monaghan, our con-
sui at Chemnitz, writes the department
of state Of the results of the expert
ments, now twelve years in operation.
THE system has revolutionized the
conditions of the working classes" he
says. The workman has the consoIa-
ton of knowing that when old age in
capacttates him. or sickness invalids
him, or accident disables him, the
funds contributed by him, his EMPLOYER
and the state WILL if not comfortably.
at least competently support him. '"The
whole empire is delighted with the sue
cess of the experiment"
The consul cautiously questions if the
system can be q sopted in the United
States, and concludes that because if
works welF' there is no good reason
why it would work as weIl'' here. The
law requires that the annual or month
~ charge be divided equally between
the workman, the employer and the
state, but practically the employer paws
two-thirds. And, more practically. tbe
worknen pay that, because. as the
consul remarks, "the men have to earn
this extra amount in order that the
pensions may be paid The "hure
running expense account of the ad-
ministratiOn Of the funds and tba
Thousands taken from productive Ia
Dor to increase "abnormally what tho
socialists regard as the curse of the
empire-the official class" are draw
backs noted by him. But such results
are inevitable under any phase of ma
ternalisn, only there they are palpabIe
What it costs this country to foster
Industries is incapable of computation
The figures he gives of the product
of the system are interesting. In ten
years there have been 21,O00, 900 cases
of sickness, covering $4,000, 900 days
and drawing S1SO,166,OOO from the
"krankheit,' or sick fund The unfaIl.
or accident branch has paid $45, 1874. 900
to 36i.O0O wounded workmen, of whom
45.6OO were killed, but the result has
been tc secure safety appliances that
have reduced the ratio of deaths from
accident from 25.7 to 81 The old age
and invalid pension law has been in
force six years, in which time 101 544
pensions were granted to invalids. and
z41,O09 to superannuates In ten wears.
Oil account Of all these funds, there
have been paid out $23S, 600 600, of which
the employers have paid AS per cent.
OF the effect on character that must