The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-01-31
working Program for
Social Betterrnent'

f--t a. % rp-~isl assistant % -oei.I
eorksrs m staplnx ~ = progressive pro
sonal claract-r-I u-- the Hora M, IN
Us widest siEnificsn--. ouf as opposed
TO dePeneenc-. 80 rixnifyinE indspend-
-nce. r.if support. s-.f respect
Social workers strive TO promote nor
maj d~f~nd~nr- They seek first OF all
to strengthen the fsmily-not ne---rar-
ny IN ats remote COLLATERAL ramifications
oet as real social unit. having a
sound baris In personal relation ships
Ihey seek 10 awaken. or 60 revive. the
sense OF family responsibility, among
their most fundamentai and universal
tasks II that OF family rehabilitation
Ihey recognize the evils Of family de-
eoneernsa n iha, m. .na s5SfsIndy
foundations OF family life shall be laid
even more securely and >afeguarded
against new and insidious dangers. They
are Interested In compensation for IN
dustrial Injuries. for this also Is in the
direction OF social Incarceration IL is
neither sound from the social point OF
view. nos decent from the point OF view
or common humanity. to throw the finan-
cal burdens resulting from deaths and
! INJURIES IN industry upon charitable no.
cleues. and still less IL IL decent or toll
cradle that they should fall upon the In
ulNiduaIs injured and their widows and
orphans The original less the physical
suffering and the bereavement fall. OF
course. upon them. Insurance canpot
transfer such losses. though II well di-
xided II may tend to prevent accidents.
I
trial injuries may be insured. like those
from fire. and they may thus be distrib-
uted through the community. falling
eventually. they should upon The
shoulders Of the Purchasers of the com
inodities In the manufacture or produc-
ton OF which the lives were lost or in
Juries sustained.
Behind all the phenomena OF modern
industrial society-favorabie-u
apic-the social worker IN conscious Of
one extraordinary fact which diff.ren-
tlates indeed our modern westarn corn.
inunities from others OF which We have
knowledge and which gives an unique
character to the social work of our gen
GRAFTON. This fact. which Professor Pat
! ten makes the very basis of our new
ciNlliIation. Is the fact OF "A disposabl.
social surplus. We do not find ourselves
struggling with "A perpetual deficit our
rich national resources, our great and
augnenting inheritance. our Ingenious
inventions. our complex cooperative re-
latinns our world wide interchange OF
products and services our large. scale
manufacture. our improved Transports
tons. our
Economies In Distribution,
our command IN word over the re-
sources OF nature and of humanity APP
par To nave made ~ possible to satisfy
an thr ordinary physical wants Of men,
70 maintain In all classes a standard NJ
IlNihg consistent with a decent respect
TOR IN" opinions .Os mankind This
change from an age Of deficit To- one 80
surplus - the most revolutionary con-
c"ivahl" II sweeps away some hard
ana ugly traits or character and II
BRINGS new vices and temptations II
puts an end potentially TO restitution
ana premature death. TO excessive ia
ilrue and all anxiety about the means of
livelihood Unfortunately there survive
som" traditions from earlier and more
severe conditions and We do not easily
.hahcipate ourselves from those tradi-
We live in an aee OF surplu. Tba, "a
me nrst and fundamental fact for us to
sIasp. W" nave economic resources
win whlcn we can successfully combat
AN excessive death rate, even as col
Georges and his associates ronouered VI
! i"W fever In cuba and made a health
( Itsort or the plague stricken isthmus az
Ianama We haN. resources material
H.d s'l"uliti'. with which We may de-
I Str"N injection IN every one ~ its
sttonRholdS W. have resources econ
"inic ard administrative with which We
can protect our food supply. our water
supply. our milk supply We have. re-.
sources. financial and educational
<'lentifl" and administrative with which
" may take children out Of mines and
factories. reliev" the strain of over-vork
! N every industry. stop tn. exploitation
ON wo rr,n,, saw our ySnns offeaders
reform our PENAL codes and prisons .s-
thhtish Fairgrounds in the cites social
lrlbui" our factories. modify our tax
avs and plan oar towns 80 Hs 20 siu,,
. "VercrOwding.
OF Various Resources
INV RESOURCES legal economical
ana moral with which We may establish
M il"nal minimum 81 hours or labor
"t ply 'ioal exhaustion. OF nervous strain.
alr. n v" viii and must even 81 wages
Ne have resources or money aud knoNI-
edge 50 ~ to de- " hat ought 20 he done
LpT The sick poor. for the aged infirm
'"r "rphHurd children. for the widow
win young children dependent upon her
, even for The beggar and the tramp. SO
thst th"r" may he no excuse for ill-con-
siierei and Injurious almsglving V.
nave resources Of physical power ~
human power. and - conscience 50 10
manage our Industries 49, to eliminate
the conditions which destroy life and
health. ~" conditions which make in
eNitable degeneration and disease And
our greatest resources for the doing az
All these things. fpr tie elimination az
All cruel exploitation. all stupid orpres-
son. IN this that every such change in
.feaSrs the social surplus Instead Of do
Il"ttng 10 some profits tler. may Ice
tna' VIII shrink wehu Industry ~ hu-
man rrd but they are iI.rfffrusfe
profits. unsocia. ana unjust som. oapi-
r. tai even NAV he DESTROYED hut u - amt
social capital which No IAN afford 20
DESTROY ami cannot afford o. preserve
some labor even may heroine t4ut,rof.f-
all" hr- 70 is anti So. iai labor which
must b- d~yerfed 80 social ends
Social workers are not Ifopisnz Thev
. are sober "if'xsu- ~ the - STING SLATE
1T Sire com .sfIfN which f|sf have DO.