The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-09-15
OLD AGE PENSIONS
washington, D. G.. Sept. 8. 1st

pers would be much improved by 70,
lowing the same course, provided,
however, the same wisdom were used
in making the selections.
The inclosed article on old age Len.
sions struck me as being worthy
discussion of live problem, one
that must be faced and solved, If JUS
tice is to be done and civilization pro-
gress. A proper provision FOR the
aged poor and those injured in the
line of duty would do away with
much graft in the name of charity,
damage suits, court costs, ETC., ard
would bring about laws which would
reduce the causes producing death
or injury by accident to a minimum.
Perhaps a discussion of this sub
ject may not be of interest to your
readers who are mostly agricultural
workers. However, believe even
they will appreciate this able discus
sion of a great social problem, the
relief and abolition of poverty, and it
'will at least make them more content
with lot where the poverty of old
age is not so bitter and it's real. trag-
edies few. Sincerely yours,
GRANT COWAN.
His Condition Has Grown Worse
There can be no doubt that the
condition of the aged workers has
grown worse in this country during
the last thirty years.
And for this reason:
Our country is rapidly changing
from an agricultural to a manufac-
turing country.
On the farm it is comparatively
easy to take care of the aged, Espe-
cially was 1t so in former days when
living was cheap.
There is plenty of room on the
farm, and even old people can usual
" do chores-enough to make up for
the slight expense of their keep.
II is thus no special hardship for
their friends and relatives to take
care of them.
The case Is entirely different with
the urban workers. The maintenance
of their old folks by the wage earners
of the cities-especially where these
men and women have children. TO-
take care offs nowadays simply i'm
possible.
Aged working men and womenl
therefore soon become objects of pri-
vate or public charity.
After having lived life of useful
ness the working men and the work
ing women of the Countrywide men
and women who create all wealth
are usually subject to all the indig-
mites. the sordidness and misery of
the poor house or the system of out
door relief"
No wonder there are SO many trag-
edies. Men and women of finer SEN
sibilities prefer death to this humil-
iation.
The aim of every normal man and
woman is an old age free from care
and want. To that end most of them
toll patiently and live closely, seek
ing 10 save something against the
day when they can earn no more.
And yet the same fate awaits the
overwhelming mass of them.
In the life of the toiler there are
weeks, and sometimes months. of en-
forced idleness. weeks of unavoidable
idleness, losses from cheating and
swindling, and then. as age creeps
on, about his forty,hfth year. a con,
stantly declining capacity to earn,
until at fifty-hve or sixty he finds
himself helpless and destitute. !
There is hardly more pitiful trag-
edy than the LOT of the toiler who
has struggled all his life TO gain a
competence and who at sixty years
faces the poor house.
The black slave had no such trag,
edy as this. II is 8 tragedy reserved
for the free worker in the freest
country on the globe"
There can be no question as 10
the right of these men and women to
be taken care OF decently in their old +
ase. They have made civilization
possible for everybody and especially
for the comfortable classes,
AS said before. from their earn.
ings-the average is about $4Oo a
year-it is absolutely impossible for
them 10 save anything for their old
age.
Even If they should descend to
Chinese standard of living they could
not, as 4 mass, lay by q competence.
They would thereby diminish trade.
cause hard times and change our civ
iliEation. But they could not, under
our present system. secure them.
selves against want in their old aye.
Realizing this. many great privstS