The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-11-14

g the religious, fraternal, unionist, inc
81 fields, and such other information tina
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MOVING DAY AIDS DIVORCE.
Ownership Of Homes Among Laborina
Class Remedy for Social Evil,
Asserts Iowan.
Moving day was depicted as one of
the greatest foes of modern society
and one of the cardinal reasons for
divorce and vice by John B. Ham
mond, Des Moines, Ia, in an address
before the International Purity con-
gress here.
1.-THE re-establishment of the Ameri-
can home is the only remedy for the
social evil and the only hope of de-
mocracy," he said. "The constant
shifting of families from one section
to another prohibits the long acquain-
lance among young people through
which proper life partners can be Sc
lected. Young people are thrown into
contact with strangers, become bold
and practice receptions. AS the re-
suit marriage frequently is consum-
mated on guess. The receptions are
discovered and lead to the divorce
courts and often to immortality"
Mr.. Hammond asserted "the con-
slant diminution Of home ownership
among our people and the restriction
of the privacy of the family life is
the greatest menace threatening our
free institutions today" The tenant
system is responsible also for much
of the labor trouble, he said.
Tenantry System Fosters immortality.
about 20 per cent of our people
are actual tenants and dependent upon
spectators for the roofs which shelter
them," he continued. "Thirty-five per
cent of the families in our cities move
once annually. Today more men than
ever before in the history of our ma
tion are unemployed. There are more
divorces, a lower birth rate and a
higher percentage of immortality than
ever before. All this because of the
tenantry system. Girls born and
reared in tenements are easy marks
for white slavers and not infrequently
a widowed mother, ground down by
the tenantry system, is forced to sac
rifice her virtue rather than her
children.
"The restlessness of labor is due, in
large measure, to the lack of owner.
ship of homes among our laboring
men. With conditions as they are
working men are unable to own their
homes. A home would make laborer
stable, without he is dissatisfied. Go
where you will, you will find the great
est degree of immortality and lawless-
ness where the homeless population is
the greatest"
AS a remedy Mr.. Hammond said he
would exempt the homestead from
taxation; put the burden of taxes on
incomes and constructive ownership
of property and re-establish a mini.
mum of rent in tenements based on
assessed valuations and graded on san.
itation and conveniences.
For the Promotion Of Social Service.
The Baltimore convention of the
American Federation of Catholic So
cieties has provided the facilities to
promote the work of the Social Serv-
ice Commission by the following Off
cial manner. This gives everyone an
opportunity to assist in the work of
the Social Service Commission, which
has received the warm endorsement of
the convention, and from Catholics
in all parts of the country. The meth
cd should be of particular interest to
the county federation and priests.
Social Service Membership.
Section Z. Social service members
of the A. F. and c. s. are such per-
sons as individually affiliate with this
department and pay to the social serv-
ice commission of the federation, the
sum of five dollars annually. These
members shall receive certificates of
membership and are entitled to the
official organ and literature of the fed
Grafton and to voice and vote in the
conventions. Social service member
ship certificates will also be issued to
all members who secure thirty or more
subscriptions to the Bulletin, in which
case the fee of five ($5.00) dollars
will be paid to the social service COM
mission by the federation.
Address all communications and
contributions tn tho "S0cia1 Service