The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-11-25

the menace of State socialism will
provoke smile of incredulity on
some faces But anybody here in
Washington familiar with the artful
propaganda chat has been maintained
in support Of the idea OF embarking
the Federal GOVERNMENT upon the
policy of the public protection OF ma
ternity and infancy knows how
cleyerly that propaganda has been
made to appeal to some OF the warm-
est sentiments OF humanity and how
skillfully it has sought to engage the
earnest interest of the women OF the
land thereby Anybody here IN TINS
Capitol familiar with the stages
through which this bill passed up TO
the time that it was reported out to
the house In It's amended form knows
full we'll what battle has been wag
ed by the influences that would have
given the measure over completely
to the forces that In unlfesltating
ayowal are making for the most radi'
cal principles of Government control
Of maternity. infancy. education OF
youth. and SO on through the whole
catalogue OF Government regulation
and Government standardization Of
the individual citizens Of t.le land,
Including birth control itself. There
is no secret about IT.
! "enl Is Dangerous
This bin Is dangerous because it Is
4 the entering wedge for policy that
once opened and In active operation,
can have no other end than that
; broader and more insidious scheme OF
Government regulation and control
that was In the minds Of those who
first proposed such policy. Today
happily, the government does NOT
seek officially to concern itself in any
degree with the domestic relations OF
the care OF maternity and infancy
4 Once this bin becomes a law. no mat
ter how cautiausly drawn, no matter
how honestly advocated, the cameis
nose has got under the tent
"The Government by that token has
departed from its former policy and
matter Every man OF experience IN
public affairs knows that from that
day on the forces that have up to this
time failed to get inll recognition OF
their theories in this particular bill
will never rest from their labors until
upon the Government foundation here
laid down they will erect an institu-
| ton in which shall be found every
one OF their principles and agencies
! thus far rejected Year by year, de-
tail by detail, line upon line, .precept
upon precept, they viii seek through
amendment of law Ito work out a
( statute that realizes their fullest as
pirations a
Speaker Applauded.
THE time to stop such a thing is
now, when for the only time we can
prevent its beginning. Applause. J.
"Why, for that matter, the very
fact that the bill sets.a time limit OF
few years upon the continuance OF
and operations under ii is bald con
! lession by ifs own trainers OF distrust
Of the principle and frank admission
that 1t can only be entertained, if Ell.
tertained at all as a vigorously cir
mumscribea experiment Applause.
III II is a good thing, why should il
not go on forever?
/ r say again this. Is the entering
wedge to be followe din season by
| the crossed thing. The time to XIII il
! IS now.
When soeiety through its own
1sagencles ann forces and inspired By
/ It's own exalted sense OF self-preser
walton and sefrespnnsibility, works
itself MP 70 higher aid higher levels
OF social order, then society is strong
and healthy, n all mostals are who
take care OF themselves and do fol
themselves. And the government such
Il society sets up is strong and
healthy, TOO, because. being a popular
| government, It comes out OF the ranks
OF strong and healthy people.
Society shIrks Responsibility.
But when society reaches that
stage of vain speculation and aimless
4 endsayor that it seeks to shirk of
| onto government the duties that be-
long to itself, individually and In the
mass, society grows moro and more
lazy. inefficient, irresponsible, incom
petent. helpless, and dependent in
i proportion as It drops its own bur
dens. For. awhile, II is true. govern
ment appears to carry the additional
| load aud then II Is discovered, little
BY little, that society, having little re.
sponsibility to bear for itself, is only
breeding parasites and dependents
and is no longer sending strong re.
cruits from its own ranks into the
government. And the government on
the other hand, being no better than
the people who make it. sinks to the
level Of iAcompetency and helpless
ness of the very multitude that looks
to II for help Applause Then fol.
/ lows thp fupVitahln nrncpse ~ sloth