The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1920-11-10
Tells 10000 Women He Favor'
Department in Defense OF :
Mothers, Childhood and !
Public Health.
TO ADVANCE SOCIAL JUSTICE
Emphasizes Need Of Safeguard
!: ing Women on American Farms.
Stands for Enforcement of Law

ny senator dar0lOg IN speech on So
eial justice to 5000 women who came
to his front porch from all points OF
the compass.
1 Such a department., said Senator
Harding, must "avoid the fearful re.
suits of bureaucracy. There can b
no more efficient way Of advancing
humanitarian program" he said, than
by adapting the machinery Of eur Fed,
eral Government to the purposes we
desire to attain. While others may
nave their eyes fixed upon some par
ticular piece Of legislation or more par.
ticular policy Of social justice which
calls for the sympathetic. interest Of ua
all, I say, without hesitation, that
our primary consideration must be the
machinery Of administration, and that
when the time comes for us to re.
organize our administrative govern.
ment in Washington we must all stand
together for the creation Of Depart,
ment of Public Welfare.
II pledge myself today" he said, ito
support with all that is in me whatever
practical policy of social welfare and
social justice can be brought forward
by the combined wisdom Of all Ameri
cans. Nothing can concern America,
and nothing can concern me as an
American, more deeply than the
health, the happiness and the enlight.
eminent Of every fellow American.
Must Avoid PaternaIism.
"The social justice that I conceive Is
not paternalism. It would be easy to
make 1t so, and dangerous indeed to
the best spirit that Americans can
have-the spirit of expressing by the
individual free will ones own merits,
capacity and worth. We do not want
government to suppress that express
sion of free will, even by benevolence,
but we do mean to preserve in Amert-
ca an equal opportunity and a pre-
paredness for self-expression therein,
even though we use the government
to do it.
II believe that there is no step more
practical, no step which will mean
more to the growth of Americas So
cial welfare; no step which will guar
antee better Americas social justice,
than one which Il propose to you.
Dangers to Be Avoided.
II have no doubt that there will be
some who will find In this proposal
cause for calling me an extremist, but
when we have task to do, which has
been dictated by our conscience and
approved by our wisdom, let US
straightway find the way to do it. !
do not say this without word Of
caution. l recognize certain dangers
which are always presented when gov.
eminent undertakes large and detailed
tasks
Tasks Of Social Justice.
Senator Harding pointed out the
sure footing and declared:
when making the proposal for q
department Of public welfare to
America, am aware that have made
step in advance of any platform.
"We all know that we face tasks OF
social justice, which we must under.
take with dispatch and efficiency. Who
can suggest one Of these tasks which
can supersede in eur hearts, or in the
rank which foresight and wisdom will
give that of the protection of eur ma.
ternity?
''The protection of the motherhood
of America can not be accomplished
until the state and the natien have en-.
acted and, by their example, have en-.
forced customs, which protect WON.
anheod itself. I know full well that
there are women who insist that WON
en- shall be treated upon the same
! basis that men are treated"
! Senator Harding discussed the need
Of adequate protection for women IN
| industry and expressed his belief IL
the wisdom Of an. eight-hour day fol
| women workers. He emphasized thu
need Of safeguarding the women on
American farms. He proposed putting
the Children's Bureau under the sug
gested Department Of Public Welfare
and urged prevention Of abuses d
child labor. & D.. = =. 49,
II must not fall" Senator HARDING
went on, ito speak to you today Of ont
of the measures of social justice ani
social welfare not often catalsgued IL
this manner, but perhaps more impor
*tant than any we have considered.
refer to the enforcement Of law. Il
will not be my business when elected
to decide what laws shall be. It vii
be legitimate for me to invoke publ,
1 Iopinion for their enactment, but sucl
q call to public spinien must Sc bases
more upon the duty OF the Nxecutiv,
OF the nation to give facts to the PEG
pie than upon his desire e give opin
ion, theory and propaganda The en-
forcement Of the law Ii an Executiv,
resp possibility and must Be under
taken by the Executive Without regarl
for his personal approval or disap
proya l@of the law, which sit hass 80
y y the peoples VII TO enact.