The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-02-13

Editors Note-rhis Is the first OF
series of articles dealing with sociat
problems ON the theory that each con,
munity should deal inteiligebtiy ana
comprehensiyeIy with it's problems.
Prevention, rather than cure, Is de-
manded.
The old saying: "One-half of the
world does not know how the other
half lives" does not justify the ignor-
ance of the one-half 1t simply states
a fact without excuse or apology.
When a sensitive pei son inyesti-
gates this statement and finds it to
be only too true, he feels like con-
demned criminal, because he realizes
that his complacency made the com
age of such a statement possible.
There should be a minimum stand
ard below which no human peins
should permit another human being 10
fall, or if he fall, to continue 10 he
there degraded and miserable. we
may not realize it, but the CONDITION
of the other half reacts on us for the
very simple reason that society is an
, organism and when one part suffers
all other parts suffer with it.
Ignorance No Excuse
Ignorance concerning the other half
is no excuse because it is easily pos
sible to be informed on the status OF
that half. Surveys, when made, con-
| fer responsibility on the surveyors be-
| cause a survey discloses needs just as
physicians diagnosis discloses dis
| ease and determines its nature and
! degree.
1t would be a blot upon any physi
! clans reputation if, after having dag
nosed a case, he should walk away
without attempting to cure or relieve
! the sufferer. So, if after we have read
| the facts pertaining to the other hail
/ we make no attempt to improve It's
condition we shall stand condemned
1t is only the part of intelligent
selfishness to study the causes o.
poverty, crime, and disease. From
financial standpoint, if from no other
it is only wisdom to protect ourselve!
from all three of these terrors which
menace society. Every community i:
a center in which crime, disease, anC
poverty breed and from which theil
spawn spreads.
i We have comparatively few o
these social blemisbes in our commun
ity, but when we look at the state in
stitutions which house or confine tht
vicious, the failures, and the wreck
iage of every county the totals are ap
palling. There are 90 state institu
lions in Indiana whose population ont
year ago was about 10000 souls.
Cost Four Million.
The cost of providing food, cloth
; ings, custodial and other care wa
nearly $4,000,000. New buildings cos
over half million more. The tota
amount spent by the state and it
counties on crime, disease, and power
: ty reached the enormous sum of $6
100000 And, remember, this doe
not include private gifts and provis
ions. Would it not be the part o
intelligence to reduce this awful e2
pense, even if we are not concerne,
with human wastage? The question
is: How shall we reduce it?"
There is way out if we will 70
low it. If we can prevent or reduc
crime, poverty, and disease at tn
center we shall automatically reduc
l the total at the circumference. 1t
r the business of each community t
2 put its house in order and keep it j
| order as if it were all that there is t
< society.
Efficiency is generally at the loves
/ point ii the curve in the average con
: munity. Efficiency increases in prt