New Britain herald., 1930-02-03
WHO SUPPORTS THE AGED:

us tcl AOhl cNHLto " u U hubSA 10 those already possessing Old Age Pension laws. These were California, Minnesota, Utah and Wyoming.
 States which already had such laws were Montana, Nevada, Wis consin, Kentucky Colorado, Mary land and the territory of Alaska,
 Are these states right or wrong?
 Many or the aged are being sup ported by others, except in rare cases and in special circumstances such as the possession Of wealth.
 People are supposed 10 save money for rainy day. At the same time they are importuncd 10 buy and buy-on the installmont plan to keep business humming, and the industries prosperous.
 If the millions who arc heading toward old age every minute were 10 take those it their word who in- sist that it is the duty of everybody to save out Of sometimes paltry earnings in order 10 have a nes. esg in their old age, and these mil- lions practiced such amazing thrift as 10 run chance Of achieving the nest GEE. then what would become of the manufacturers Or what would happen to business:
 It has been the men who have bought and operated automobiles when they cannot afford it who have made the automobile industry great and powerful. (Ycars ago one of this city's leading citizens said that there would never be five men in New Britain able 10 afford the own ernship and operation Of an automo- bileD
 It is the people who buy expensive radio sets when they "cannot af- ford it. who have made the radio industry important.
 It is the people who go 10 theatcrs two and three times a week who have made the thcatcr industry O. vast dimensions.
 It is the people who pay high rents out of all proportion to their income who have created real estate values.
 It is the people generally, the hard W worhing, ordinary, citizens, who make the acquisitions of wealth by the minority possible. If to these every dollar began looking like d cart wheel and every penny like an automobile wheel they might save enough in 40 years 10 pay their way for a few years more. But America would not be what it is to- day under such penurious thrift.
 Then there is sickness. Is a man to be blamed for becoming ill, pos sibly being taken 10 a hospital and there undergoing a surgical opera ton costing the net returns of years work? Or is he 10 blame when it happens to his wife or his children?
 This is the most prosperous na- tion on earth. But the average total of wealth left by the average citizen is not large. Probate court records give Illuminating figures to anyone needing them to cogitate about.
 Professor Irving Fisher more than once has brought up the qucs- ton of the diminishing value of the dollar. Thousands have discovered that the rest ceg Of 1910, which looked as if it was growing nicely, has turned out 10 be bcrelt Of one third Of its buying power today. And it is the old man, who began accommodating the precious nest csS long before 1910, who suffers most rom q dollar worth 66 cents.
 Of course, those who wax fat on paper profits, who made an lnpest- mcnt of sl00 in 1910 and have seen fl grow to a value Of ;I,oO0 or more, arc not in this class.
 There arc relatively few 0. the lndigcnt in the alnls houses. Only those without relatives or friends usually set into these institutions. The other poor are being supported by sons, daughters, or other rcla- tilcs. That, of course, is right; son who would permit a parent to remain in want is worthless.
 That $ one way Of solving the problem. That IS the way it is being solved. But let no one try to prove the fear of being indiscnt at old age i, a spur toward effort to avoid reliance upon others when the period of scnility is reached. Mod crn industry simply doesn't pay enough to the majority 10 insure ease and independence at 60 or 70. Industry in fact, is making it harder every year for the man past 40 10 continue acquiring that nest eGg one hears about.
 The Tratcrnal Order of Eagles, with the aid of economic experts, has given the subject of old age pen sions thorough study. Is main diff fcultv is being about 70 yetrs ahead