The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1922-10-25
The Aged Farmers Plight

That there is something radically
wrong in the present system Of
equalization and reward of merit,
there is not n doubt, but the remedy
seems just as far away today as ever.
and the fact is not pleasant one
for those that spend n lifetime of
frugality, toll and sweat and in the
declining sunset of life incapacitated
for further efforts of self sustenance
have not sufficient funds to weather
comfortably through the remaining
few years of existence.
An old Nebraska farmer put forth
an interesting argument on the sub
ject recently when he wrote letter
to his newspaper asking what de-
partmcnt of the government he
should apply to for pension, stating
that pensioning Of government en-
ployces seemed to be recognized
duty, and that railroads and other
large corporations had taken up the
idea until ut this time greater part
of the aboring men may look ahead
to the time when they will live off
the money earned by the sweat of
other mems brows.
The old farmer said he put in from
twelve TO sixteen hours day for
fifty years raising foodstuffs that the
world might live, has always been n
producer and not II consumer, and
expressed doubt of having enough
to keep the wolf from the door until
death knocks thereon.
He believes the young men raised
on the farm of today are wisely lcav-
ing and taking jobs offered by gov
crnmcnt and other corporations
where they will work only eight
hours u day and few years be hand
ed pension sufficiently large to
snable them to live in ease and com
fort.
In support OF his confessions the
old gentleman brings forth some
strong points of argument difficult to
rcfute or course, the government
will take care OF him when he gets
to the point Of inability to do so
himself. but the present method em-
ployed in such instances would inn
print the stamp of the poorhouse
upon him, an odium that all true
mankind abhors.
We believe there should be ample
rewards for meritable service, bu.
we are of the opinion that the pen
sion idea is being somewhat over
worked. Expectations OF "A pension
often places premium on. and ov-
ershadows, the inclination to render
efficient service. Bu, il the tendency
is toward wholesale pensioning, the
faithful and hard toiling farmer
should be included.
The farmers are taxed to provide
homes for the poor, but seldom do
YOU find one from their ranks AN in.
mate of such homes Generally they
are filled by those from the towns
and cities.
The saddest thought to the aged
is the one that they must 10 "ovcr
the hill to the poorhouse." Many
secret orders and labor organiza-
tons have fine and beautiful homes
scattered throughout the nation
where their members that are old,
iniirm or penniless-thrOugh mis-
fortune or otherwise so and
hc richly provided for. and thus the
sting OF the ''poorhousc' is removed,
or at least not given thought or con-
sideration. Why not nation wide
agricultural association adopt some
such plan? \ few bushels of grain
each year would insure against pos
sihlc misfortuncs denying you a
comfortable home and the best OF
care when no longer able 10 continue
battling the elements for existence
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