The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-06-24
BY CHARLES G, STONE.
Public Relations Counsel, Eagles Indian
Age Pension Commission

Public Relations Counsel, Eagles Indiana
Age Pension Commission
Full recognition of the leadership
of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in
championing old age pensions and
Of a brilliant Indiana man, Frank
E. Herring of South Bend, who
heads the orders national pension
commission, is accorded in Golfers,
the national weekly, in the issue
bearing date of June %.
Pull Down the Poorhouse," is the
title of an article by William G..
Shepherd, tracing the old age pen
sion movement in this country from
date before the World war to the
present.
An editors note with the article
reads:
Were the richest nation in the
world, and yet, almost alone among
the nations, we still herd our I'M
fortunate old people into poor
houses. That can't go on; age has
rights of its own-to independence
and decent comfort and to home. .
Shepherd has woven humor and
pathos into his article. Here is a
snlile-provoking statement for Hoo
siers, who recall that in the 1929
Indiana legislature the Eagles old
age pension bill was branded social
istic:
Adopt Pension Laws
whats the use of being one of
those radicals, always yelling for
something new and better? Try to
be one and see What a discouraging
path you follow. I can take any
Communist, Socialist, Bolshevist or
radical over to the busy town of
South Bend, Ind, and show him a
simple collection of eleven ordinary
everyday pens-just wooden holders
with steel points-that will draw a
groan out of him.
"For these pens, by merely
scratching away for second or two,
each in the hand Of the Republican
or Democratic Governor of some
state. have taken the Ole age pen
sion idea away from the radicals"
This refers to the pens in the col
lection Of Frank E. Herring. Since
the article was written, an old age
pension law has been adopted in
Massachusetts, surely the last place
where anything even remotely re-
sembling radicalism would have the
ghost of a show.
In addition to Massachusetts,, New
York adopted pension law this
year. It bears the signature of
Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt,
Democrat, and was passed by Re
publican legislature.
AImshouse Idea Is Old
Shepherd mentioned to Governor
Roosevelt that the red tag had been
placed on old age pensions.
But it isn't socialiStic," the Gov
ernor said. "Poorhouses aren't So
cianstic. The almshouse idea is 300
years old. 1t began in Queen Eliza
beth's time in England. It's time
we put the ancient heartless but ex-
pensive almshouse out of business
City hospitals that give free care to
the i'll and aged are not socialistic. !"
Shepherd recalls that after sign
ing the bill, Governor Roosevelt was
so impressed by the measures spon-
sor, the Eagles order, that he asked
to become a member. Shortly after
ward he was initiated by the Buffalo
IN. V aerie.
Magistrate Fred Hughes Of New
York City became the Eagles pen
sion leader in that state as result
of a poorhosse incident which he
witnessed.
While Hughes was Westchester
county attorney, he was at the poor
house one day when an old couple
arrived after the trip "Over the
Hill"
"As fine old people as you ever
saw" Hughes told Shepherd.
"They were asked q lot Of ques-
tons" Hughes 800, while =
~.