New Britain herald., 1924-05-03
BINGHAM OPPOSES
 CHILD LABOR BILL
Believes It Would EncrOach on
 Rights Of Sovereign States
HOPES SENATE KILLS IT
Charles B. Hotchkiss Dies At Age of SO-liealth Board Stands Fat u,,
 Compulsory vaccination-Ncw De-
 parturc to Play DiNies Of Hartford.

Advising all 10 do everything pos sible to assist in the retention by the states Of their rights WAS advised las, night al an overflow meeting of the Bristol club by Lieutenant- Governor Hiram Bingham in a stirring address on Self Reliance in Citizenship" More than 100 attended the gather ing, which was presided over by ihe president, Judge s. Russell Mink. Mir. Bingham spoke in part as fol- lows:
 The public welfare is subject in which we are all interested. whether we look al it from the point of view of the town, the city, the state or the nation. There are some things, such as national defense, foreign affairs and interstate relations. which can be assumed best by the nation. On the other hand. the welfare of our chill dren is the chief concern of their par ents or guardians and cannot wisely be assumed by the nation. Tn view of the fact that the state is anxious that it's future citizens should have healthy, we'll trained minds in healthy. well trained bodies, some thoughtful writers believe that the state should assume the entire re- sponsibility Of rearing and training Its children. A psternalistic system of government has obvious advantage in efficiency, although its real adyan- tages are more superficial than fun- damental.
 Tt IS easy for state inspectors 10 judge whether sehoolhouses are mod ern and sanitary. whether school teachers are graduates of normal schools, whether school children are being taught the latest brands Of sci- ence and art. but ii is not SO easy for state inspectors 10 judge whether school children are developing sturdy characters. self-eontrol and vital ambition to hecome useful citizens through honest effort. These are things which parents and neighbors know about but which it is hardly possible for the state government 10 learn in time to be Of service. Con- seauently the towns must be ready 10 assume the responsibility for having charge Of both teachers and schools and must not expect 10 lay this re- sponsibility on state or national au- thorities.
 Patcrnaiism and Cannon Fodder
 "A paternalistic system tends to de- velop efficient subjects rather than self.reliant citizens. Efficient sub- Sects make excellent cannon fodder and useful tools with which to carry out the designs or sn all-wise govern ment. Self-reliant citizens are the life blood Of republic. fthey are de- prived of their responsibilities by a wise paternalisn1, then the republic is likely to become an oligarchy or an arstocraey or an sutocracy, even though its outward forms seem to be those of a democracy. Self-reliant citizens must be able 10 practice the duties of citizenship. If the necessity fer making important decisions Is taken away from them and giyen 10 state bureau. if the fundamental re- sponsibiity Of seeing that adequate and comprehensive educational facili- ties are provided for inc children Of the community is taken away from, tho voters Of the town and given to the officers of the state, a fatal blow is struck at the foundations Of our government.
 Even though in some respects the children may not he taught ss well under a system which permits the self-reiiant citizen 10 make mistakes, this loss is as nothing compared 10 inc consequences Of a paternalistic system which. while providing stand ardized schools. standardized teachers and standardized children, fails 10 de- veiop self-reiiant citizens who have learned wisdom through the resPon- sibility for making important decis- ions. fails to give teachers the joys Of exercising their own ingenuity. pre- vents them from inspiring their ru- pills with high ambition, and leaves the children 10 become dependent rather than self-reliant. or what good is it for republic 10 care for the welfare and education of its chil- drcn if it fails 10 develop eitizens who can do their own thinking and are accustomed to making their own de- cisions.
 Eaps Juvenile Labor BHI
 ''The prevailing tendency Of many people in the United states. who wish