The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-21

existence OF sore spot in our social
system which calls for governmental
action in the form OF some funds-
mental means Of apPortionment and
adjustment.
The Way Is Pointed.
THE Associated Charities have
pointed the way. They ask, in most
cases. for a certain sum with which 20
keep up a family for a period cover
ing the minority Of one or more chill
dren. Outside the fact that there are
hundreds of cases which the Chari-
tiles do not put on their lists. and out
side Of the fact that the individual
could give cheaper through the Gov
eminent than through individual per-
Sonal donation, comes the great truth
that, after all. the dependent mothsr
and the dependent child are not OBJ
Jects OF charity and should not be
aided in that name
NO child in the world is a pauper.
no mother who has contributed the es-
sentials of q family life to the world Il
an object OF charity. Inc children are
the wards OF the state. and the mothers
their rightfTl guardians during their
periods of minority.
FOR that reason there should be no
element of charity in the whole matter.
for IL is instead the duty of the state
and OF every citizen IN IL 20 contribute
to the support of the minor child OF
dependent mother in the home just as
much as il Is a duty through iusiihable
taxation TO contribute to the support Of
any state institution.
Collection of Funds.
Taking the matter Of the collection of
mothers pensions out OF the hands OF
the charities and turning it over TO
that form Of administration. the Gov
ernnent. which can we'll afford to dis
pose of its duties to the great advantage
Of the mother and child. would seem to
have crowded the charities out of their
own field.
But this should rot be tie esse. I
do not sanotton the taking over Of the
Associated Charities or any branch of
charities az organizations by the Gov
eminent, but do hold that there should
be formed a sociological department.,
made up from the workers IN the or
Eanlzation who have already qualified
as expert social physicians in their own
fields.
Social work is as much Of a science
as geology Or medicine. and scientific
expert knowledge gained from actual
experience and training. and not poll
tics. should be the deciding factor in
the choice Of governmental social serv-
ice workers
That the Government could take the
dependent mother on as a pensioner
far more justifisbly than it takes on
men who have killed for their country
as pensioners. is evident"
The mother as a preserveF and con-
structive force in human life is worth
much more to the Government tina n
the soldier. Her Influence as a home
maker is intensive work OF the high
est caliber, for she gives to the future
citizen, in his most formative period.
a training in the ideals ct manhood
and the proper disposal c, his func-
for new law emanating from our
central Government III the Govern
ment can by ore law wipe out seven
eighths per cent. or anywhere near
that amount of poverty in the United
States by the formation and admins
tration OF one law-and judging from
the weird similarity of the Christmas
opportunities and their demands, it
can't is time some action was
taken
The statement OF DR.. Charles Svisher.
of George Washington University. is