Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-11-07
Protected Look Upon 1t as Pass
ing Show of Present
Decade.
Elections Throughout Various
states Do Not Verify Above
Criticism.
DUTIES OF The GOVERNMENT

A person supporting severa
policies in a fraternal insurance
society is not deeply interested in
the so-called social insurance legis
lation. To him this agitation ap-
pears to be annoyingly radical. His
views are influenced by the very
nature of his protection, and his
first actions are consequently very
conservative. Social insurance un-
doubtedly is meaningless to him, or
at the most it is merely a fad, a
passing show of the present decade.
The general eelctions throughout
the various States do not verify the
above criticism. Social insurance
has assumed real earnestness, in
fact so serious that a large number
of men who formerly shrugged their
shoulders and then forgot about il
are now engaged in studying the
progress of insurance legislation and
the controlling factors. Several
States in the Union are contemplate
ing to enter into the insurance busi-
ness.
The high cost of government no
doubt is influenced by the added
number of State employees and thus
the rule seems to be that the num-
Der and size of budgets is directly
proportional to the number of en-
ployes and size of the office. This
consideration, however, should not
be the standard in defining the
rights and duties of the State
Government. nor of any other gov
ernment The question involved is
not one of efficiency nor of costs
and profits, but one of principle
The fundamental principle of the
American fonm of government is a
representative government. The
powers invested in the Government
and In the case of the Federal Gov
ernment the powers delegated by the
respective States are supposedly
equally balanced among that of the
executive, the legislative and
judiciary. The individual and
property rights of each citizen, OIL
person coming under the jurisdiction
of that Government, are adequately
protected. Today in spite of these
guarantees there has grown up a
system of paternalism which has
resulted in extravagances, waste and
an intricate multiplicity of offices
and Jobs. This is not a defect OF
the foundation of our Government
but result of an energetic activity
on the part of politicians. And
Socialism has thus been able to in
trench itself. A large part of this
so-called activity or social legislation
is not essentially wrong; on the con-
trary, 1t is necessary and even vital.
That we need industrial compensa-
tion acts, health bureaus, old age
insurance and what not, there can
be no doubt. but whether this
activity should be shouldered by the
State in competition with private
corporations and organizations is
not merely undesirable and un-
healthy, but wrong and subversive
of the rights and privileges of the
individual citizen.
Man precedes the State" says
Pope Leo Kill, "and possesses,
prior to the formation of any State,
the right of providing for the sus-
tenance of his body. The State must
not absorb the individual OF the
family; both should be allowed free
and untrammeled action so far as is
consistent with the common good in
the interests OF others. II should
be borne In mind that the chief
thing to be realized is the safe
guard OF private property by legal
enactment and public policies"
State insurance, State this or
State that, is indeed not a guarantee
In safeguarding private property.
In this particular the State is not
protecting but directing private en-
deavor; II is not encouraging private
business but competing with private
business. This condition Of affairs
Is commonly known as socialism,
when II correctly should be called
indifferentism. Men OF influence,
Officers of organizations, yes. the
average citizen. is too indifferent to
the needs OF his fellowmen. He
does not heed the cries OF the rest
less masses. his eyes sense not the
ills OF the day. Social legislation is
not an evil, II is a necessity. II Is
an evil, however. when In the hands
of paternalistic government. The
weaker members OF the society, the
less circumstanced. need protection
by the government. but not char
ity-- his fellowmen and not his
government are bound In duty to
correct those conditions which oy-
press him. II is the citizen. not tpe
government. that should participate
In this activity. and then soclal
service. and not socialism. wig be
ever Dreaenf