The Washington herald., 1913-01-26

to his call. with no formalfty. At any
moment"
Why Americans Are Extravagant.
Are the American people extravagant
in their personal and living expenses" I
inquired
81 think the average American spends
more In those ways now than did the
average American before the civil war.
That war gave birth to many large for
tunes at the North and made large ex-
penditures for living expenses fashion
able. We get more out Of life in the
twentieth century and we give more to
get II. Next"
Are courts and the public too lenient
with criminals nowadays A year or
more ago Gov. Baldwin said in an ad-
dress at Hartford that putting the
wrongdoer In confinement to be sup
ported at public expense is a very costly
kind OF punishment for the State. 1t
was much cheaper 20 dispose OF him
as they did a hundred years ago. They
generally fined or iogged him and let
him go; unless II was a States prison Of
fense." As asked my question heard
the swish of a cat-o-nins tails and hoped
the Governors observations would be
picturesque at least, II not actually
startling.
It have published more or less on that
general subject" he said. ''and refer
you to my book called Modern Political
Institutions Let me hear your next
question
But you believe" ] insisted. 'fn whip
ping bad boys instead or sending them
TO reform schools?'
My opinion on that" the Governor
answered, as he arose, walked to a shelf
and took down a sober looking volume,
has been given in a paper. which ap-
peared in the Yale Law Journal, in June,
1sea''
And as to paupers?" j remarked, baf-
fed but not disheartened.
Everybody except the Socialists rec
ognize the duty of the State to support
those who are really unable to support
themselves. OF course one trouble in
applying this doctrine is to ascertain who
are thus unable to support themselves
This must always remain problem Of
administration. II Is supplied in Con-
necticut, and We think wisely. by max
ing II so far as possible a local prob
lem in each case and the locality Is
narrow one, namely, the particular
town.
(which elsewhere is often called .
township" ] suggested
Namely. the particular town." the
Governor continued ignoring my inter
ruption. in which the Individual belongs
of country. containing, perhaps, twenty.
thirty. or forty square miles and in the
smaller ones everybody knows everybody
else and there Is little opportunity for
fraud In determining who are paupers
and entitled to poor relief and who are
not. Proceed"
Socialism Is Not Dangerous.
What do you think of present-day
methods of instruction In the public
schools?"
You seem to want to cover the whole
history of the world" the Governor mild
ly protested, but he made answer never
theless IT think the danger in modern
educational methods" he said. lis in
trying to teach too many things. A few
subjects well taught and well explained
in their relation to each (one) other form
the best food for the mind and the max
ing of the average man. I think also
that more might be taught in the early
years of childhood than now commonly
is. The German boy of fifteen has learned
much more than the American boy OF
fifteen and is none the less healthy"
rs there any danger of the United
States becoming socialisticT
You say danger" the Governor re-
peated is II a danger? What is So.
cialism? In some respects modern gov
ernment would be regarded by the world
in former ages as thoroughly socialistic.
The public library, the museum, the
park, the post-ofice are all efforts as
a community to serve the individual
members Of society at the cost Of the.
whole society.
Paragraph" the Governor ordered.
and felt more than ever like stenog-
rapher.
Undoubtedly. however, he went on
'the socializing of governments in the
United States in the future is rendered
difficult II not impossible by the terms
of our constitutions, State and national.
These are instruments which 1t Is hard
to change IN many OF their essential
characteristics. They secure private
property, and that is an institution in
,Smpatible in principle with pure social
ism. In Europe the transition would be
easier because their constitutions where
they have them, are simpler and more
flexible
rs this country losing its religion?"
was the last inquiry 1 attempted.
'I do not think So" answeredrthe Gov
ernor, who is q pious man himself TT
is in my Judgment. more truly religious
now than 1t ever was. There is less
weight given to dogma and discipline and
more to going about doing good. which
was the rule Of Christ"
I picked the scattered sheets from the
floor, the Governor stood up and bowed.
and noticed that he would strikingiy
resemble old Roger Sherman. who was
the father of fifteen children. by two
wives. were he to shave on his beard and
wear a stock and a high-cut, collariess
vest.
lCopgrisht. ls,, b. James B. NoIovl