The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-02
IVES SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAMME TO WOMEN OF COUNTRY

Is in the United States were wage earn
ers. | do. not say that among them
there were not many exceptions, whose
labors were of such a nature as to INT
them to become better men and women,
but / do say that in the mass their
labor represented the theft OF their right
to childhood, to happiness. TO health.
and of their right to prepare TO embrace
our equal opportunity. to realize for
America their capacity and worth as
future citizens. This condition we could
not neglect, and We cannot neglect
the problems of child labor in this coun-
try. Even IL ii were not upon humani-
tartan grounds. / point out TO you that
the protection of American maternity
and childhood represents economic thrift.
Indeed, it represents the saving OF our
blood our posterity and the future
strength of our nation
Higher Health Standards.
Next to maternity and' childhood, I
believe that our attention must he CEN
tired upon our national health. / have
said repeatedly through this campaign
that between % and 33 1-3 per cent. or
the young men examined in our hrsf
draft for war were found to be defec-
tive or physically unfit Examinations
OF children in the public schools or
America disclose that so per cent. OF
them are suffering from physical de-
linquencies. most of which proper atten-
tion would remedy before maturity.
believe. therefore. that we must under
take with great seriousness the problem
of our national health ! am alert to the
danger OF too much oppressive bureau
cracy In any great federal health bu-
reau, but l want to see the various
agencies grouped together in depart
ment of public welfare. ! want TO see
their principal function. that of stiinu-
lating by research and education the
communities and local governments or
the United States to the most active AMI
sufficient campaign against low stand
ards of physical well being. We must
attack first, low standard Of health
among children secondly, the invasion
of diseases which attend a low standard
of morals. and thirdly, the invasion Of
epidemics and the neglect of the chronic
diseases of maturity, many of which are
due to a failure on the part of individ~
uals to adjust their living and habits
TO an artificial civilization.
"It is not possible to discuss in detail
all of the measures of social justice
which sooner or later the people of this
country will probably have to consider
and adopt and put into action or reject
as impracticable. But / do conceive an
obligation of government to devote grave
attention to another group of problems
which are all humanitarian and which
are Of vital Importance to our future.
on Industrial Cooperation.
II have spoken during this campaign
of my attitude toward industrial peace.
: have stated my full belief in labor
unonism and in the practice of collec-
tive bargaining, and / have also tried
TO emphasize n belief which feel deeply,
that industrial peace, though IT may be
attained by adjustment and Cancellation.
can never stand upon its flrmest founda-
ton until Il higher sense of loyalty to the
task permeates the worker and q higher
sense of humanitarian brotherhood per-
meates the employers of America | do
not think OF this reawakening of a higher
conscience upon both sides in terms of
generalities and l regard il as being
one of the humane functions of which
our Government is capable to saturate
the industrial life of our country with a
spirit which will tend to reunite parties
Of discord.
eve are often presented with condl-
tions which result in industrial con-
tTONeTsy, out Wnlcn may not be charged
to- either side. | speak specifically OF
two examples The first involves tine
unrest the discomfort. which arises from
unsteady employment IT is not n con-
dition to be remedied alone by Federal
employment bureaus filling in the gaps
Of unemployment. but rests largely upon
conditions of industry which make nor
seasonal production and periodic closing
and opening of Industrial plants and &C.
equations. l am enough of an optimist
TO believe that Government can assist in
the abolition of this most unfortunate
condition. | am even enough of an OPP
tmist TO believe that the Government
can take a large part in second and.
perhaps, even more important campaign.
believe that many of our workers are
engaged in tasks, which have been so
specia lized that the men and women
themselves have become almost pieces
of mechanism. This has produced
condition In which many of our workers
find no self-expression. In such con-
dition, men and women are drained dry
OF the impulse to create.
Without any false notions as to the
! possibilities of turning back progress SO
that the day of less specialization may