New-York tribune., 1908-07-19
GERMAN UNITY
confluence of PorerfA Currents of
Social Reform.

;.r which I shall bring TO close series VI
s,....,x on German social progress. From the
-. .errace n front Of a time-worn Roman
nlen n..i,,ca the Moeelle and the Rhine are
= ,,in<iine their waters and q maSnincent
s..r,nen. is towering above them as symbol
!. -. natriotism and military resources OF
80 e-n,;re The Rhine represents the strong.
-. .,-inr Iiberty-icving current Of Individual
= xhich has been sweeping steadily onward
,.r.h centuries Of German history. with uni
-.s, suffrage the Frankfort tradition ana
al, ,brsft a national habit fruitful as the vine
"a. M, the sunny slopes The Moselle STANDS
- practical Collectivism which has rein
x..s Individualism without polluting II with
.-,oralizing tendencies The monument at the
Influence Of the two streams indicates the
e.-shasou-ins supremacy Of the state In the
,,aI welfare Of the Fatherland- With the
.,r-cl, factories and shipyards behind the
-,,,r,.nt and the activities OF an industrial
,ox-, astir around them, the allegory OF modern
r.-,arr with the moral responsibility of the
.,s,,,ioual in working out his salvation by self
-, and thrift and with the collective power OF
,,e community in facilitating progress by meth
~. of state socialism, is fairly complete
-,s confluence OF Individualism and Collecfiv-
.-, NAV : illustrated by what is perhaps the
most characteristic thing in the local govern
- of Coblence. This is special tax levy for
~. maintenance Of sanatorium and convales-
,.,. wards for consumptive patients This sani-
cory measure is grounded upon medical expert
80 since il has heen proved that a consider
h,a proportion Of tuberculous patients can pe
,-ed If their cases taken up in time and
-,,e-lv treated. and. moreover, that neglect to
5o go endangers the health OF those around them
,7ohlence is one of many German cities adopt
g.. S,-e-er,atic courses for the isolation ana
curative treatment of consumptives and the pre-
,.,-icn Of the spread OF disease Philanthrop1c
.ocieties are subsidized from municipal funds,
convslescent homes are supported, vlsitations
a.. conducted BY inspectors and volunteer nurses.
end consumption. first and last, is more scientih-
c,rv treated in Germany than in any other
c,u,t-v 1t is & campaign planned and carried
o,, IN detail with as much thoroughness as any
o,e-ation of war preparation for II, under
~. s,re-vision of the military staff
Powerful support for this remedial movement
,s eived from the authorities responsible for
the administration Of the sickness and invalioity
insurance funds. workmen and their employers
s,e 1eaS1,ed together in associations and super
,iso-z boards for carrying out these systems OF
Insurance 10 which they contribute week by
week They have common interest in pro-
noting the health OF the insured. in restoring
their efficiency wage earners and in prevent
ing the spread of infection. tuberculous pa
tient is burden TO be carried at the expense OF
The sickness and disability funds and. unless he
can be isolated and scientifically treated. he is
source of infection and those around him may
have 10 be supported from the insurance re-
serves Contributions toward the maintenance
Of sanatoriuuns and convalescent homes are reg
ris-1v made by the insurance associations. and
public opinion receives from them strong i'm
pulse toward systematic campaigning against
co,51d har he better
illustration Of the cooperation of individuals
and municipalities in promoting social warfare
The state requires vork1nen 10 insure them
selves against sickness and disability. and en-
riovers to help them out. and when they are
closely associated in a system OF thrift based
UPON self-help they themselves protect their own
insurance funds against waste by forcing nu-
inequalities 10 make special tax levies in the in
t7-est Of public health.
Behind ali these Collectivist agencies for I'M
proving and uplifting the condition of German
workers is a clear and definite recognition of
the idea that the individual is under obligation
TO support himself and that everything must be
done TO increase his physical and mental eff
cency. The wage Garner is the unit of the So
cisl organization OF the empire He has no in
herent right as a human being to expect that
the satc will take care of him without effort on
his Own part and that work. food. lodging, some
kind Of living and q pension in old age will come
10 him as gratuities because he happens TO have
been born into world OF politics and labor ag1-
tstion II is his duty to work and TO lay by his
pennies for emergencies of sickness. disability
and old age: and if he declines employment and
becomes vagrant beggar he is forced TO
earn his bread in a vorkhouse. The dignity Of
sefrespecting labor is the best tradition cf
working Germany. Decades Of socialistic as1ta-
ton have neither pauperized nor demoralized
The wage earners- The current of self-help and
manly Independence flows on as strongly and
seadiy the Rhine at Coblence.
The wage Garner ie entitled, however, TO be
state aided in everything that tends 20 make
him more efficient as q worker and happier.
more contented and less anxious i'm his home
Re has q right to be as well housed as any one
nth his income can be; and to this end public
'unds and agencies ere available for improving
MS lot Education for his children, the school
Doctors advice when IL is needed and sanitary
measures when his home requires them are not
70 ne withheld. When he is out of work every
facility is 10 be offered him for finding employ
nent and IA the hardest times there must be
relief works when necessary at local expense
His employer must assist him in insurance
ssanst accident sickness. disability and old age.
and the state must supervise this system OF
sCeguards against emergencies and contribute
70 II when there are permanent pensions. Peo-
pcs lawyers, municipal bureaus and workmens
secretaries are TO supply him with information
sH advice whenever he Is bevdldered and in
s>f,ous trouble, and the door must always be
open 10 industrial courts and trade tribunals.
Shere his grievances against employers, land
efes or creditors be innpartfaily Judged In
'heee and in many other ways the German
st9man is helped by Collectivist agencies in
= struggle for livelihood and in the COM
0hdshie ambition 10 improve his lot and TO