The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-12-16
NO MORE ALMSHOUSES

The suggestion from the local representative OF
the department of labor that the county poorhouses
be abolished and that the State maintain glgantlc
institutions for poor is not in keeping with the
spirit of the age
The poorhouse is the creation of the day or
Queen Elizabeth and has changed little IN character
or in its effect since that day
Progress has been made in other directions
every other social custom changed but this insttu-
ton which carries with it humiliation Whe II ohers
food and shelter remains the same.
A State amshouse is still an almshouse, with
all of it's misery all of its hopeessness, all OF its
heartlessness.
In the readjustment of conditions from an
agricultural to an industrial there will always
be those whose only fault is old age, VINO cannot
support themselves and who must, if they do not
starve receive some support from the State
It is idle to say that thrift is the cure and that
everyone should save against the days when the
productive power in tbs highly competitive age
cannot meet the demands OF the human pody lot
food and clothing and shelter
The truth is that there many who have con-
tributed long years of earnest labor who have
Stunned evil habits of living, who have, perhaps
raised families but who do not have that COM
petence necessary to maintain themselves when they
no longer work
For these it is rather dismal prospect to be
taken to an institution where rules, restraints and
conditions lift it but very slightly above those IN
which violators of law are restrained
Poverty is made, in such cases. scarcely less
than crime.
There are countless cases Of heartbreak when
old age and necessity combine to send aged
couple to one of these infrmaries.
There are countless which could be more
happily helped were they permitted to remain in
;p4oi nv
They are the veterans of our industrial system,
grown old, and should be given the same treatment
as those who are veterans of wars
They have fought the peaceful battles of produc-
tion and Of labor. They should not be disgraced.
AS against this great centralized almshouse, the
plan suggested or Old Age Pensions has the more
powerful appeal to sentiment and the more COM
polling one of economy.
These pensions where in effect, proving to
be cheaper than the almshouse where the State or
counties maintain superintendent and other officials
in fancy jobs.
The cost is less, and that should appeal to those
who may have no sympathy and no sentiment In
this matter
There is, of course, the stronger argument Of
human salvage in which hope is kept alive, selfre-
spect maintained and the usual contacts with friends
and acquaintance possible.
It Ia time to stop sentencing the aged for
improvidence 1t is time to look conditions squarely
in the face and recognize the facts as they exist.
The Legislature has a report before it of
vey made Of conditions in Indiana That report
shows the extravaganza and the cost of the many
poorhouses. It shows something, too of the heart
break which they hide
The lawmakers shoruld study that report and
put Indiana in line with progressive States in this
movement for humane treatment of the poor