The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
EVEN SENATOR HEPBURN
 DELIVERS REAL SERMON
BY WALTER HARPER

colleague says that the bill discrminates in the investigation to be nader
 MT. Hepburn. No; I do not. I am dis eliminating"
 MT. Borah. "oh! That has besn my im- pression from the beginning"
 | MT. Hepburn. "The senator's impression
 was correct. Has that phase of this legislation been considered? If 1t has | been, does anyone suppose that the law would be so administered as to deal equal ly with the children of all classes2 Would it inquire whether or not the habits of the parent of wealth were such as to exercise proper influence over the mind of the child of wealth. or do they propose to inquire whether or not the moral character and habits of the rich parent are such as to constitute worthy example to the children of those parents? Do they propose to follow the child of the rich into the schools. into the colleges, into whatever institution the child Is sent to obtain an education, to ascertain whether or not the morals of that child need public supervision or public eX posture?
 "In the volume referred to by the sen- ator from New Hampshire (Mr. Gallingerl we find criticisms upon the personal char acter of the parents of the poor. Do you propose that there shall be published, in like volumes, criticisms upon the per sonal character and habits of the parents of the rich children? No; this matter has been discussed fin newspapers and in speech and in letter always from the standpoint that it was the children of tho poor that needed the care and supervision of the federal government, and that the money was to be appro- priated for the advancement and the up- ..f fl,a aist of 11a When we are legislatin ghere all are of equal wealth and equal concern. We do not
 egislate for classes. Do you think the people of wealth in this country are su- perior to the morals of tho people who labor for their living and who constitute probably % per cent or more of the pop ulaton?
 "If this bill becomes a law I trust that some strong men endowed with the pow CT of administering government will see to it that it's first application is to those who are seeking 10 place this brand or suspicion upon the poor. Wealth does not breed morality. It more often tempts away from the path of" morality. Some arc moral because they are poor. Mighty few are moral because they are rich am endeavoring to point out some of the things that seem to be overlooked in considering this measure
 My colleague suggests that there IS nothing in this bill that would prevent It. That phase of this measure has not been touched upon in the newspaper considera- ton of it, nor by any correspondent nor by any man in or out of the Senate who has spoken of it. The bill, il is assumed, is to deal only with the slims or with the poor There may go into the house. hold of the humbest of those who are pt essing for this legislation: there may
 ,tI .f f1a.. who is defenseless against this inquisi- ton, a man stamped with authority, or who thinks he is, and he may ask the resident questions as to his habits. as to his wife's habits, as to the habits of the adult members of the family, as to whether they play cards or drink or gam ble or dance, and then you have made record by which the child is to be judged and the parent or guardian is to be judged. You have indulged in an inquisitorial proceeding. which, except for the purpose of discovering crime or enforcing the law against if, we ought never to permit under the laws of this country.
 But you have not contemplated that this agent might go little further up on the hill and enter the home of culture and wealth and refinement, real or pre- sumed, and say; Do you parents of this child drink? Do you observe the rules or conservative decency? Are you living such upright lives as 10 be an example or morality to this child?' You have not contemplated that. and yet it Is within the provisions of this law. and. ] assert. would never be within the execution or it. There Is not a word. so Tar as my attention has been called to the report of the former committee, that even refers to any except the poor.
 'I want to emphasize again what said with reference to the comparative social and moral status of the parents ot the poor and the parents or the rleh. reassert that the great bulk of the Chris tian population in this country who go to