The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-10-12
Conference of Local Lead
ers Held Friday to Adj
vance Plan.
PROPOSE NEW LAW
Movement Started to Pledge
Support to Plan to Aid All
Over Sixty-five

which will provide for pensions for
the aged, a conference was held at the
Eagles club on Friday evening and out
of this conference is expected to come
movement which will put Kenosha
people on record as urging that this !
state take a lead in the nation in pro-
viding for proper state aid for all aged
people. Members of the Fraterial
Order of Eagles in all parts of the
country are urging the movement to
secure more humane care for the aged
people. 1t is said that the Wisconsin
legislature is expected to look with
favor on such legislatio. 1t is the
wind state campaign to have every
section of the state urge upon the
coming legislature the desirability of
adopting such legislation.
Would Pledge Entire City.
At the meeting on Friday evening
plans were held for the, holding of
mass meeting of all the people of Ke-
nosha at one of the theatres in the
near future and after this meeting
pledge card is to be sent to every man
and woman in Kenosha asking him or
her to vote. on the ACCESSIBILITY of pass
ing legislation along these lines. The
Eagles are to conduct an educational
campaign among their own members
and with missionaries working among
the other people of the city with
view of having the city of Kenosha be
one of the first cities in Wisconsin to
take referendum on the old age pen
sion plan. Similar plans are to be
worked out for every large city in
Wisconsin within the next few weeks
and plans are already underway to
carry the educational campaign to the
rural districts of the state
Armstrong Strong for Plan.
William H. Armstrong, former may
or of Racine, and past grand presi-
dent of the Wisconsin Eagles, was
the principal speaker at the confer
ence held on Friday evening. He out
lined at length the interest of the
Order of Eagles in the movement, de-
claring that the only urea or ideal of
the order was to. have big part in
the Inauguration of a great humani-
tartan order. He presented to the
conference a model bill which has
been drawn up by attorneys represent
ing the order, but it was declared that
this bill was simply suggestion and
that the state of Wisconsin might work
out its own plan and even find better
plan. Under the suggested plan men
and women reaching an age to be set
by law-the model bill fixed the age
at 65 years-would be entitled to apply
to the state for pension. This pen
sion would be in the amount of
twenty-five dollars month. Pen
sions would be granted only in cases
where it was shown that the condi-
ton of the applicant showed the need
of the state to make it possible for
he or she to live in comfort. The
plan is similar to the plan now fol-
lowed in Wisconsin in granting
"Mother's pensions"
Sees Saving to the Public.
Mr.. Armstrong presented to the Ke-
nosha men wealth Of statistics show
ing what the -nation is now paying for
the maintenance of aims houses and
homes for aged people. He declared
that system of pensions for the aged
properly administered, would not, in
any way increase the burden of the
care of these people on the state or
nation. He asserted that the present
system of making paupers out of the
aged of the nation was not only in
humane, but that it was costly and
that it failed to get the results. He
showed that the people most in need
and most worthy of the aid of the
states were unable to obtain aid I'M
der the present system. He had
strong brief for the pension plan, de-
claring that it would make possible
the remaining with home associates of
men and women who reached a stage
in life where they were not self
supporting
Many of the men attending the con-
ference joined in the general discus
msion of the plan which followed the
address of Mr.. Armstrong. Among
the speakers were County Clerk
Charles L. Holderness, Sidney M.
Jones, Exalted Ruler of the Elks, At
torney James E. Tully, John F. Lam
gan, former Sheriff Andrew F. Stahl,
former Aldermen George Roberts and
Michael Donahue, and John Neider-
prim. All of the Kenosha men de-
clared themselves favorable to some
movement along this line. Several
suggestions were made for the inau-
guration of pension funds in the big
industries of Kenosha as a test for
the plan. 1t was held that such a plan
could be worked out, possibly, with
out state legislation and that it would
give 9 chance to test the feeling of
the general public toward the idea.
This plan would provide for the work
men leaving small fraction of his
earnings in a fund for distribution
among employees who attained the
age when the pension would become
active. The plan suggested was
similar to the, plan now being fol-
lowed by the teachers retirement
fund in Wisconsin.