The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-03-06
FRANK 3. HOWE, Editor aud Publisher
lie coMlNe oE SOCIALISM

Year by year, in spite of all the
serious talk OF states rights and in
dividual rights and the dangers OF
socialism and paternalism, the com
munity takes the individual more
and more in charge and backs him up
in securing a square deal The follow
ing from the Youths Companion il
illustrates the point
The theory of the savings-bank in
surance and pension system, first es-
tabished by the State of Massachu-
setts has already been set forth in
this column; but since, in practise
the system seems to be working we'll
further illusions are justifiable and
likely to be helpful 1t may be re-
peated, therefore, that working PEG
Pile need insurance, for the benefit of
their dependents. more than the rich
do that sayings-banks, which were
established as philanthropic insti-
tutions, are the natural agencies for
providing such insurance protection:
and that the Massachusetts law en-
ables any savings-bank to establish
an insurance department and issue to
residents of the state life-insurance up
to the amount of five hundred dollars,
and oldage pensions up to the amount
of two hundred dollars-which
amounts one may increase by patro-
nizing more than one bank. Many
merchants. manufacturers and officers
| of trade-unions have accepted agencies
for the new SYSTEM and are auth
orized to issue policies and to accept
/ payments, a service they render with
out remuneration.
In spite though of all effort to have
the individual look out for himself, and
in spite of the opportunities given
him to do so, he constantly neglects or
refuses to do those things which are
manifestly for his own interest and
the state must more and more compel
him This may be Socialism, but it is
an essential of just government under
the conditions Of advancing ciyiliza-
ton.
Consider for an instance the agita.
ton for an employers liability law in
this state Such law would be a
step in the right direction but the
real solution will come when the state
goes further than the mere giving a
lawsuit to a man who has been in
jured perhaps beyond reparation, and
steps in and compels each line of
business to take care OF the manned
and dependents of the killed in that
particular line.
If man is killed in a knitting mill
or a printing Office that mans widow
should draw his wages just as long
as she remains widow, but the ex-
pense should not be borne wholly by
the owners of the particular mill or
shop where the man was killed It is
a legitimate tax on all the business
of that line in the state and should be
collected and paid under state super
vision.
If a young farmer is injured on a
moving machine so that his earning
capacity is reduced one half for life,
that other half should be paid to him
just the same not through lawsuit
against his employer, but by consider
ing it a legitimate tax on the farming
industry of the state. 1t would cost
no more than it costs now for all
these bills have to be paid directly OF
indirectly.
The province of the state in the
matter should be merely to see that
exact Justice is done True this doc
trine is, in way, socialistic anC
paternalistic but it is in the line o.
common sense and progress. It is NJ
new thing, being already in success
full operation in some parts of Ger
many, and is being considered in sew
eral state legislatures Of this country
at the present time.