South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-08-17

made an exhaustive study OF the
subject He was selected by Gov.
Sproul to head the work done in
Pennsylvania in that direction and
in this position gathered some very
significant facts concerning depend
ency in old age.
Authority - Question
His latest work, Facing Old Age,
is considered an authority on this
question in this country and has at
tracted wide attention from students
of sociology and the modern trend
of industry.
II am more than gla1 to join
the movement inaugurated by the
Eagles under the direction of Mr..
Herring" said Mr. Epstein yester-
day. The necessity of such laws is
most apparent to. those who have
made a study Of modern conditions
and who know Of the tremendous
waste that is due to a lack of legis-
latiOn and provisions of this sort.
"As director Of the Investigations
in Pennsylvania 1 was able to make
specific study of over 10000 indi-
viduaI cases and to secure nation
wide data on this question.
"Our people have not yet awaken
ed 10 the fact that of the 10000
600 men and women who have pass
ed the age of 60 in this nation, near
! IL half are dependent upon some
form of public or private charity and
very large percentage of the rest
are dependent upon their children.
"Three-fourths of all old people
i'm poor houses are without children
or family connections, in itself strong
/ evidence of the strength OF family
ties But when you delve for facts
of some of the others, you find
pressing social problem.
when sons and daughters do pro-
vide for their parents who have pass
ed the productive age and who are
dependents in greater or lesser de-
gree a very large percentage are
| forced TO choose between this aid to
their parents and the sacrifice of the
/ interests in their own children
I'VE discovered in Pennsylvania
that In a very large number Of cases
Of this kind. the children were with
drawn from schools and forced to
work at a very early age and thus is
created a vicious circle that is not
good for the nation or for the race.
More Economical Way.
The system Of Old Age Pensions
is not only a necessary step in the
direction Of more humane methods
but 1t Is really a more economical
way Of handling this problem. Our
researches showed that the average
cost Of keeping an aged person in
an aims house was above S25 a month
and that in most cases, this was split.
dollar for dollar. between mainten-
ance and the essential overhead
we have not changed our poor
laws In half a century. Few states
have changed them in IS years and
yet in this time the entire social and
industrial fabric has been removed.
1--WE are still sending our depend
ents 10 charitable institutions which
create in the minds of men and wO-
men a fear and horror of age.
That fear and horror does not make
for thrift and savings, for these
are made impossible very often
through sickness, misfortune and un-
employment. What il really does IS
10 create in the minds Of men in in
dustry the constant horror Of spend
ing their last days away from fam
lilies. not a state of mind that makes
for either contentment or for eff
cheney.
Will Remove Fear.
The Old Age Pension viii change
this by removing the fear and ban
ishing that unrest which is having
al present some remarkable symp-
toms i'm some industries"
Mr. Epstein viii come 20 this city
Sept I 10 make Il MS permanent
residence during the campaign just
starting in the Eagles fraternity 70
secure the passage Of such laws. At
least five state legislatures viii pass
upon the question this winter and III
many Others strong efforts VIII be
made in state legislatures.
As one indication OF the strength
OF the movement, word was received
by Mr. Herring Wednesday that Wen
dell p. Thore, a very wealthy manu-
facturer OF Massachusetts,, had an
nounced his candidacy for governor
OF that state on the single platform