The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-07-19
The IndOlent
nv n. ADpTNGroN BRUCE
Author OF The Riddle OF Person
atty" Psychology and
Parenthood." etc.

H. In line with f. +. Rittenhouse's
suggestion. health camps are estab-
lished for the reconstructing OF men
whom military examiners find physi.
cally unfit. there Is one type OF man
10 whom such camps would be OF
exceptional benefit This is the man
who persists in refusing 10 work.
Most people assume that men Of
this sort-the tramps, the Migrants.
the ne'er do-wells OF every kind who
infest civilized society-caf best be
handled by punitive methods. They
assume that habitual idleness is due
mainly 10 stubborn perversity.
In many cases IL may be- Hut the
fact remains that punitive methods
generally fail 10 accomplish the de-
sired end And for this there Is ade-
quate reason in the physical condi.
ion 81 the oilers.
some years ago a committee OF
French scientists carefully examined
largo number Of Partisan Migrants.
Many OF these seemed to be In the
best of health, were heavy and ro-
bust looking
In nearly every case. however. Il
was discovered that they were men
afflicted with a peculiar weakness OF
the nervous system, characterized by
a slow heart beat. low blood pres
sure. and poor circulation. AS a
consequence they tired easily
Thus their idleness was, psyche
logically speaking. a defense reac-
ton They instinctively loafed 10
conserve their feeble resources.
The findings OF these French
scientists have never attracted the
attention they deserve Today. with
the nation al war. they certainly
are worth taking into serious con.
sidcrauon
Man power is in unapproached de-
mand The feeling is widespread
that every body must work az some
thing Drastic action against oilers
is urged In many quarters. There
already has been some special leg.
islaton aimed at them
And against wholly wilful idlers
drastic action should be taken. But.
first. the physical fitness OF the
idlers should be- ascertained
II an idler. when physically exam
med is found 70 De conditioned like
the Partisan Migrants. surely the
+ wise course IL not 20 punish him
for idlinE, bur 10 AT him for work
And Mr. Rittenhouse's proposed
health camps would do much 10 ac-
complish this There the idler
would be taken in hand, given what.
ever medicine he needs. upbuilt by
good food and outdoor exercise, and
disciplined ia spply~htmselfI 10 work.
Some such action as this. sub
nit H. the right action for the pres
ent emergency
n viii cost money. but in the end
III viii save far more money than u
COSTS. II would De paving invest.
ment II ~ did no more than appre-
ciahly reduce the present economic
burden imposed by the presence OF
one class otidlers alone-,ramps
In the I bited States. IL has been
estimated there are AT least $4,000
tramps. entahing on the nation An
economic saste running into mil
hons OF dollars every year One in
vestieator puts IL AZ $4,000 900
( Persecution and coercion have
failed 10 solve the tramp problem
In no light OF what the French
F scientists have discovered. the
health camp must be accounted
likely 20 contrtb butte much 20 It's solu-
ton and 20 he solution OF the
problem Of habitual idleness in gen
eral
I Give the health camp chance 20
prove l's social and economic worth.