Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-08-27
IN A LAND OF SOCIALISTS.
Germany Pays More Pensions Than
Any Other Country.

Germany Pays More Pensions Than
Any Other Country.
Germany is the most 'socialized'
nation in Europe. The state owns all
the means Of communication, rail-
roads, canals, post, telegraph, parcels
post, telephones, wireless telegraph
and Zeppelin airships. The cities own
the public utilities, are landlords Of
vast estates, own and manage markets,
theaters, electric power houses, bake
shops, meat shops and factories.
A German laborer may begin life at
tended by a physician or nurse paid
by the state; he is christened by q
state clergyman; is taught the rudi-
ments of learning and his handicraft
by the state. He begins his appren-
ticeship under the watchful eye of
state inspector, who sees that the safe
guards to health and life are faith
fully observed.
He Is drafted by the state into the
army, devoting two Of his best years to
the drill sergeant. He returns to
work from the rigor Of this discipline;
the state gives him license to marry,
registers his place of residence and
follows him from place to place
wherever he moves. II he falls Ill his
suffering is assauged by the knowledge
that his wife and children are cared
for, and that his expenses will be
paid during illness, and he spends his
convalescence in a sumptuous state
hospital.
II he falls victim to an accident the
ample insurance, even IL he be perma-
nently injured, is balm to his suf-
fering. If he unfortunately becomes
that most pitiable of all creatures, a
man out Of work, city and state unite
to find or make work for him. If he
wanders from town to town in search
of work the cities through which he
passes offer him free hospitality. If
he wishes to move to another part OF
his town the municipal bureau will be
glad to help him find a house, or even
lend him money to get one Of his own.
If he is in dispute with his employ
er the government furnishes a court
of arbitration. If he is sued by his
master or wishes to sue him, the state
has provided a special industrial court.
II he Is in trouble the city places a
lawyer at his disposal.
~, obonna fhrnnph the
grace of the states strict sanitary regu-
lations and by careful living, he reach
es the age of 70, he will find the clos
ing days of his life eased by pension,
very small, to be sure, but yet enough
to make him more welcome to the
relatives or friends who are charg-
ed with ministering to his wants.
Two hundred thousand dollars a
day is the price that Germany pays
for this system of industrial pensions
alone. More than 5000 workmen
are insured under the accident, old
age and sickness acts. This does not
include the vast horde Of officials
who are pensioned in army and navy,
preachers, teachers, judges, the nat
ional and local civil llists-policemen,
firemen, janitors and all the rest.
There is only one considerable class
Of workers left out-the private sala-
ried employees-such as clerks, steno-
graphers, etc. There Is law now In
the Reichstag extending the pension
acts to this class. Then only min
ority of the 65,OO6,OOO inhabitants
will be without the benefit Of some
public stipend. Germany is the PEN
sioner's paradise-World's Work.