Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-07-10
PROGRAM OF REFORM.

A varied and far-reaching program |
demanded in the name of social serv-
ice by the National Conference of |
Charities and Corrections was unfold |
ed by Frank Tucker of New York, pres |
ident of the conference, in his annual !
address at its fortieth gathering in |
Seattle, now in session.
81 believe the third era in the life !
of the national conference has be- |
gum" Mr. Tucker said. Il believe
that the new era will concern itself
with constructive discussion for a
program to bring about the health, eff
ficiency, happiness and welfare OF
individual family and community
We must expect TO be the melting
pot from which our knowledge and
ideals will flow into new programs of
constructive action. Social justice
demands minima below which no in
dividual or family, fit to be a member
of a community, shall be expected
to exist. II puts no limit on knowl-
edge, wealth or power, provided th9y
are not acquired at the expense of
the weaker or used for their exploitR-
ton.
What are these minima that social
justice demands?
Il. A Living Wage-Social justice
says the very least among ye shall
be paid enough to have for himself
and his family education. adequate
housing, sufficient food, simple
clothes, fuel, light and transportation,
reasonable recreation, health, care
and protection, insurance against
death and disability.
80. Reasonable Working Hours and
! Conditions of Work-Social justice
demands that the worker shall not be
! destroyed or disabled. or his working
years shortened. 1t demands that the
number of hours of continuous work
shall be reasonably limited; that there
shall be one days rest in seven; that
occupational diseases shall be studied
and preventive mechanisms and pro-
cesses arbitrarily provided and their
use enforced: that the home shall
not be turned into a sweat shop, bake
shop, food factory, candy factory or
Cannery; that there shall be light, air,
sanitary conveniences as well as safe
~ appliances for machinery in every
factory. foundry and workshop.
80. Education-Social justice de-
mands that every one shall be trained
to be efficient as a producer. and a
consumer and effective and intelli-
gent as a community member
- Housing-SOcial justice de-
mands that the housing Of the lowliest
shall have sanitary and housekeeping
necessities. shall not be overcrowded
and shall be procurable at a reason
able price.
%. Food-Social justice demands
that the lowliest shall have sufficient
food. 1t demands that neither the
i raiser nor the consumer of food shall
be exploited. It demands that food
shall be pure and unadulterated; that
it shall be sold by honest weight and
measure. 1t demands that it shall not
be wasted
&c. Clothes-Social justice demands
that clothes shall be honest. simple
= and appropriate. II frowns upon ex.
travagance, exaggerstion and constant
change. It forbids the wanton de
struction Of birds and animals to
! crafty a senseless vanity.
, -. Health-Social justice demands
that the individual be taught from the
, time OF first understanding the ele
ments Of health preservation: 10 know
the danger signals of disease: that he
{ shall be taught TO spot a quack ant
shun him; 10 look askance upon paten
/ medicine cure-alls; that he shall know
o the problems Of sex and have a holy
< horror Of venereal disease.
IS. Recreation-Socialj justice doe
not exclude the yacht, the automobile
the polo pony, the picture gallery o
the private engagement of the opeI
e attic star from the miIlionaire's schem
4 OF recreation, but it demands that al
I shall have a playground, q park,
T bathing beach, q dance hall. an ar
d collection, and music and the dram
n in all their forms of expression.
t 80. Security of Life and Eoonomi
r Status Through Social Insurance-Sc
!, cial justice does not exclude the mil
t ion-dollar policy for the rich man an
: more than it excludes him in III,