Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-05-09
HELP FOR WIDOWED MOTHERS
Nationwide Movement for Pensionins
Dependent Women.

Nation. wide Movement for Pensionins
Dependent Women.
An enterprising journal is conduct
ing q nationwide movement In behalf
of system Of state pensions for wild
owed mothers, to end the evil Of break
ing up families, says the Boston Her
aid. Six states have, in part at least
adopted the plan, and an energetic
campaign will be made here, through
the women's clubs. to add Massachu-
setts to the list. A legislative COM
mittee which has investigated the sub
ject is ready to report fayorably.
This proposal naturally appeals to
every sentiment Of humanity and ben
evidence. 1t is, however, not without
some serious practical difficulties
Thousands Of mothers now struggle
along, taking care Of their children in
some way, in order to keep the family
together, who would be only too glad
to have the state step in and help them
out in this comfortable manner. Per-
haps the state should do SO, regardless
Of the effect on revenues. but 1t ought
to be reckoned at the start as funda-
mental In human nature that the ele-
ment Of costs to the public would in
evitably run to several times the pres
ent figures. -...sl. 40 .s.rs
There are also troublesome corallar-
les. If the actual widow Is pensioned
according to the number Of her de-
pendent children, why should the chill
dren Of the woman whose husband has
deserted her, through no fault Of hers
or theirs, be left subject to the hard
ships of the existing system? And yet
to grant the deserted widow these pen
sions would inevitably encourage wife
desertion. Many mothers with six
children would be better off financial
ly under such law, without the hus-
band and father than with him. This
possibility would invite interesting
complications.
Then the problem Of illegitimacy
comes in. While the promoters Of this
project now say that they would give
the pensions only to women Of good
character-ostensibly shutting off the
unmarried mothers-what is to become
Of those who reform and give evidence
Of earnest endeavor to lead a correct
life? There are many such. It would
be contrary to all accepted theories Of
Christianity to withhold from them for
giveness, and yet to grant 1t would
inevitably remove one Of the whole
some restraints Of the practical world.
1t should further be noted that this
breaking Of homes Is only one Of the
many ways in which the appeal Of the
children Of the poor Is heart-rending.
Those who go to school In the morn
ing without an adequate breakfast are
surely deserving Of aid. An inadequate
luncheon Is nearly as bad. It is hard
to know where to stop when the prin-
ciple Of self-help is once abandoned and
the state asked to do the obviously
humane and kindly thing.
One claim Of the advocates Of this
project which may be dismissed with
scant consideration Is that the money
would be dispensed only to the very
worthy cases, where the mothers thus
aided would rear their children in good
citizenship. There need be no illusions
as to the way in which this money
would be passed out 1t would be done
by agencies just as human as those
which for forty years have moved Fed
eral pensions to invalided veterans Of
the union, or are dispensing poor re-
lief or municipal patronage.
The plan therefore calls for the care
full scrutiny Of our lawmakers. 1t is
Of broad economic and social bearings
1t should be adopted only after mature
investigation.