South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-04-09

NNaNAA a.I ....a Nt.a'.".-.
1891 Sew zealand followed I'm 1sss.
Belgium adopted q temporary oia
age pension system in 1900, ana
France a part.a. one i'm 1901 AUS
traNa came forward In l9os-tne
same year that saw the Mother
Country. al length. after so years
OF agitation and investigation by m
numerable committees. passing An
Act 10 Provide Old Age Pensions
Other European nations. as stated
above. are trying the German meth
cd OF voluntary or compulsory con-
tributory insurance; but the results
are not satisfactory. as many deserF-
ing classes are not reached.
In our own country. while there
have recently been much discussion
and investigation no action either
Federal or state. has actually been
taken. The proposition fathered by
the Eagles and now actively sup
ported by other organizations ID
several states does not contemplate
limiting the application of these pen
sions 20 any class or group. Under
the proposed law provision Will be
made. in general that men ana
women over s. years Of age who
have been % years citizens OF the
United States and for 10 years resi-
dents OF the state in which they APP
ply. who have not been convicted Of
crime or vagabondage and who can
satisfy the proper state and county
boards that their income from an
sources is less than $500 year, VIII
be entitled 10 receive from the state
fund enough 10 bring their income
70 s25 a month or $500 year That
is q man or woman 6 8 years Of age,
in the condition stipulated above,
having an income Of $3.50 will be
given an additional $3.50 from the
state so as 10 make an aggregate IN
come Of $500 yearly. If the income
Of q man or woman Is 5000. the state
will paw 500 so that the annual In
come will average IS a month. Such
men and women may retain any
home they possess up to the value or
$4,000 and still enjoy the pension II
their income Is less than $500; but
at their death their property will
be sold, and the amount realized viii
revert n the Old Age Pension fund
OF the state.
What we should do, as nation
and what the Eagles Model Pension
bill provides is TO take our position
alongside those who recognize the
debt owed 10 the u-paid toilers who
have helped 10 build our country S
prosperity and rescue them from
the humiliation and degradation or
the .crap hear Humanity and eco
nomy both demand that they shall
not be left
Strapped and cast off TO the side Of
the road,
Where Humanity's columns pass
by
The old. heaven pity. too weak for
the load.
Are left by the wayside 70 die.
Though on the long trail, they were
faithful for years
And toiled through the heat and
the cold
The world, so forgetful regards not
their tears,
Nor needs the sad plight Of the
old.
scrapped. For the buoyancys gone
from their feet,
No longer the shoulders are
strong;
Lacking the muscle required to
compete,
They are thrown refuse like from
the throng-
Worn by the friction OF years. they
sink down
Unmourned. unpitied, unsung.
The best from the world but a scott
or a frown
Or a crumb by rare charity flung
Strapped, God Of Heaven. how
sad IS the sight,
The faithful and empty old hands
Clasped in despair meath the on
coming night.
In the greatest and grandest Of
lands
Shame, Shame, Naughty world, IN
your wealth and your pride,
The savage would find an abode
For the aged and the helpless. nor
throw them aside
To die by the side Of the road.
Any person interested in Old Age
Pensions who may wish 70 get a
thoughtful exposition of the entire
question based upon data collected
from every country that Is enjoying
Old Age Pensions viii receive. free,
a copy of the pamphlet entitled The
Times Demand Old AGE Pensions"
by writing to Frank f Herring, Dean
Building. South Bend. Ind