The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-02-18
GIVE THEM WORK

In every city of any size in the coun
try there are ever-extendlng prea'
lines. men and women and children
eating the bread or drinking the soul
of public charity. Perhaps under oul
present system that is the best that
can be done to relieve-poverity. Com
mon humanity says that we cannot
stand by and see our fellow crea-
lures starve to death. II they have
not the means to feed themselves
they must be fed on charity.
But the system is bad enough. II
humiliates and degrades the worthy
poor and encourages the idle and vic
ious. 1t tends to destroy the finest
thing there is in man, a spirit OF IN
dependence and selfreliance. 1t tends
to destroy efficiency, to fill the land
with beggars, and places an unnecees-
sary L,rden on productive industry
The world owes no able-bodied man
or woman living, but every person
born into the world is entitled to the
opportunity to earn a living for him
self or herself at some honest, legiti-
mate employment.
SStarting with the proposition that
humanity dictates that society shall
allow no one to starve, it follows as
a logical conclusion that it is incum-
bert on society to furnish the oppor-
tunity to everyone to earn living.
This does not mean that society should
own and operate all the means by
which living can be earned, but 1t
does mean that society should see to
it that no one able and willing to-
work should be compelled to be idle
for want of employment. 1t also
means that If there are any able to
work but unwilling to do so, society
has the right to say they must work,
for as we said before, the world owes
no man or woman living unless they
are physically or mentally incapaci-
tated for labor,
There should be no such thing as a
bread line or free soup house in the
United States. Every one of them is
an indictment of our civilization, a.
menace to the public welfare, an
evidence of the fault of our system
of government and organization called
society.
There should be public works estab- /
lshed every where which would afford
useful employment for such persons
as cannot find employment elsewhere.
Then the healthy tramp would have
no excuse for begging handouts. II
he would not work he should be COM
PEELED to do So Society would be re-
lieved of an unnecessary burden.
The honest and industrious man would
be permitted to retain his self respect
and instead of being burden on So
ciety he would be a producer.
AS it is now we have laws punish
ing vagrancy. In other words, we
punish men for having no employment,
which is all right, provided we see to
it that employment is provided. Our
present system Of charity is illogical,
expensive, degrading and demoraliz-
ing. 1t is also unfair in that it puts
the burden of supporting the needy
On the shoulders of the generous, while
The selfish, who are often more able
10 contribute than those who do con-
tribute, pay nothing.
1t encourages idleness and frauds.
The average citizen, not having time
or opportunity to investigate every
appeal that is made to him for help,
,estows charity where it is not de- |
served. The tramp puts up the story
hat he is hungry and cannot get en- !,
,loyment. The probability is that he
S lying, but the charitably inclined
.itizen to whom he appeals, does not
Snow that he is not telling the truth
md rather than refuse to help man !,
Who may possibly be in real distress
without fault, gives to him blindly.
Here in Idaho we have not yet :
cached the point where free soup
iouses are necessary, but nevertheless :.
Senator Bowman's bill to guarantee
very worthy man work during a por-
ion of the winter is along right lines
nd other states would do we'll to fol- :
ow Idaho's example.