The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-08-24
Family Allowance, Indemnity and In
surance for Our Soldiers and Sail
ors, Duty of Just Government

pied, are in the last analysis invest
ments Of the best sort; they are sums
of capital advanced by the nation TO
promote utility, self-respect and eco
nomic development. More than all,
they are essentially humanitarian and
the government Of an essential duty
to society.
Military service is now obligatory;
those who imperil themselves have no
election. The insurance companies do
not and cannot permit this fact 10 al
feet their calculations. They must
protect themselves by charging pre-
miums so high that they are secured
against loss no matter how severe the
rate Of mortality may be Conse-
quently the very men who are called
into the service because the physical
condition is the best and who as civil
ians would for that reason be able to
secure the most favorable insurance
rate in peace time, are denied as SOL
G.ers the necessary life insurance to
enable them to protect their families
and dependents. The tremendous
rates charged by private insurance
companies TO protect them against
the extra hazardous risks Of war put
insurance entirely beyond the reach Of
the conscripted soldier.
Military necessity has, therefore,
subjected the most fit subjects for in
surance to an insurmountabla discrim-
nation unless the government itself
supplies insurance at cost and upon q
peace basis. Il would, in fact, be das-
tardly and undemocratic if the gov
eminent should penalize the soldier
who is forced to render the highest
duty of the citizen by its failure to
provide war insurance upon peace
terms and at net costs, first, because
the pay Of tire enlisted men in the ar
my and navy is less than the wages
and salaries generally earned in pri-
vate life, which reduces their invest
ing capacity; and, second, because
government insurance Is an essential
war and emergency measure, inaug-
urated for the specific benefit Of our
military forces, and cannot and should
not be conducted for profit.
Such overhead charges as agents
commissions, advertising, promotion,
local rentals, etc, are eliminated. The
government must assume the cost of
administering this benevolent agency,
just as it bears the cost of admins
tering all otter governmental agencies
established for the benefit of the peo-
pie.
This legislation will be a great step
forward in the recognition of the Re-
public's duty to its heroes. / consider
it the most significant and progressive
measure presented to Congress since
the declaration Of war. 1t Immediate
ly affects the we'll being of a greater
number Of persons than any act with
which | am familiar. 1t deserves the
earnest and vigorous support of the
country. 1t provides the broadcast and
most liberal protection ever extended
by any government to its fighting
forces and their dependent families.
The United States, the most progress
sive and prosperous nation on earth,
setting an example in the ideals for
which enlightened humanity is fight
ing, should set the highest example of
all nations in the treatment of those
who do and die for their country and
for world freedom.
We are proposing to eypend during
the next year more than ten billion
dollars to create and maintain the
necessary fighting forces to re-estab-
lish justice in the world. But justice
must begin at home; justice must be
done to the men who die and suffer
for US on the battlefelds and for their
wives and children and dependents
who sacrifice for US at home. To do
justice for them requires only 1.-THE
Of the money we are expanding for the
general objects of the war. Let it
not be said that noble America was
Ignoble in the treatment of her SOL
diers and sailors and callous to the
fate of their dependents in this great
est war of all time.
The pending war insurance bill
gives compensation, not pensions; it
ixes amounts definitely in advance in
stead of holding out the mere graf
mites after the conclusion of peace.
It saves the dependents from want
and gives them the necessaries of
life while their men are at the front.
It deals with its heroes literally for
the sufferings that result from their
on the field of battle, and,
# they die, it makes just provision for
the loved ones who survive them. 1t
fosters the helpless and dependent, the
MANNED and disabled, and recognizes
The immensely of the nations debt to
he valor and patriotism of her heroic
sons. =.