Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-10-02

We are momentarily irritated at
times when we desire - enact
measures, which appear to be deol-
Gated wholly to the welfare of man.
kind, VIXEN we find that constitution
al limitations prevent their legallty.
But we have been saved through
these many years; and will be saved
throughout Americas continued
progress from the growth or 100
much centralism, TOO much paternai-
ism, too much bureaucracy. ana 700
much infringement OF the lnoi-
viduals right to construct his own
life within our American standards
Of reason and justice.
l would like to point out to all
America that there is grave danger
at hand when centralized expression
begins to take from local commum-
ties all the burdens of social
conscience. The best that humanity
knows comes up from the individual
man and woman through the sacred
institutions of the family and the
home. and. perhaps. finds its most
effective application in the com
munity where life is personal, ana
where there is not an attempt 10
cut men and women to pattern and
treat mankind as wholesale COM
modify.
Protection Of Motherhood
The protection of the motherhood OF
America can not be accomplished until
the state and the nation have enacted
and. by their example, have enforced
f.
self. | know full we'll that there are
women who insist that women shall be
treated upon the same basis that men
are treated. They would have a right
to take this position in their own be-
half, but / insist, that all true Ameri-
cans must insist, that no woman
speaks for herself alone. She Is the
posessor Of our future, and though si1e
becomes engaged in the tasks and SER
vices of civilization. we must preserve
to her, the right Of wholesome mater
nifty.
We no longer are speaking Of small
! group Twelve million women in the
United States, forty per cent. Of them
| between fifteen and twenty years Of
age. are engaged in paid occupations
CT professions. Such an army Of pu-
| tential maternity demands from Amcii-
ca careful and adequate protection in
| the conditions which surround their
| labors, For such an army there must
| be an increasing enlightment in indus
| try and business which will tend to
,ers Of remuneration. and esta olislI
Il,
Of such n army. engaging in the tasks
OF America, probably can not De under
| stool by men alone. In the admins
tration Of federal and state laws. and
| in the educational services which will
| assist industry and the public. and the
, women themselves to understand the
! needs of women. we will require the
services Of the most capable women
we can get upon federal and state
boards Of employment, labor adjust
ment and, indeed, wherever the welfare
| of maternity and the welfare of Ameri-
can childhood, directly or remotely, are
| involved =
We are not doing, however, enough
| for the future citizens OF America if
we allow women to injure. by industry
| or ignorance, their maternity, or if we
allow infancy itself to go unpro-
tected from disease and unintel-
lisence. Among sixteen important
countries of the world, thirteen show
lower death rate for mothers than
| does the United States, and six show \
lower death rate for very young chill
dren. Nearly quarter Of a million
I bob -
the entire casualty list Of our men in
the great war-die every year.
The speaker spoke at length on the
eight-hour day, child labor and our
national health. With regard 10 the ell
forcement of law he said:
l must not fail to speak to you to-
day of one of the measures Of social
justice and social welfare not often
catalogued in this manner, but per
haps more important that any we have
considered. l refer to the enforcement
OF law. 1t will not be my business
when elected to decide what laws shall
be. 1t will be legitimate for me to in
woke public opinion for their enact
ment, but such call to public opinion
must be based more upon the dtuy of
the executive of the nation to give
facts to the people than upon his de-
sire to give opinion, theory and propa-
ganda. The enforcement of the law is
an executive responsibility and must be
undertaken by the executive without
regard for his personal approval or
disapproval of the law, which it has
! been the peoples will to enact. What
ever your achievement may be in the
world. your concern. as mine, is prin-
cipally with the American home and
you. with me. will realize that We must
have throughout the land a respect for
laiw-abiding principles. We must all
condemn without qualification the fail
ure Of enforcement of prohibition.
just as we must all condemn the fail
ure of established authority to prevent
outrages of violence, such as lynch
ing.
I have appealed to you as to enforce
ment Of law. because I regard the en-
forcement OF law as fundamental
principle of the American conscience,
and If | am to distinguish between
men and women l will attribute to the
women Of America the major part in
the preservation Of that conscience.
Here is the difference between our
opponents and ourselves There is no
difference between US in our desire to
help. But those who seek to induce
America to join the Paris league
would have US pledge ourselves body