Imperial Valley press., 1935-01-18
EDITORIAL PAGE
and
FEATURES
HUMAN RIGHTS RECOGNIZED


Without question there will be many
divergent views on various details OF the
social security program presented TO
congress yesterday by the Presidents S
committee appointed to recommend leg
islation to initiate social relief, but 1t Is
hard to conceive of any great opposition
to the purposes of the program.
The past five years have shown us the
terrible amount of misery that can be
foisted upon human beings through no
fault of their own Thousands and tens
of thousands of honest men, willing and
anxious to get work, have been unable to
do so and have been forced to stand by
watching their families suffer, and IN TOO
many cases have been driven to crime
themselves in order to get something Tor
their families.
Even yet, with all the money that has
been spent for relief, and all the efforts
that have been made to create employ
ment, such cases exist.
There may be all sorts of reasons off
cred for the necessity of such Legislation
as the Presidents committee has sug-
gested. but in the final analysis the real
purpose of the legislation is to prevent
as far as possible, a repetition OF the
distressing conditions with which we are
all familiar.
1t is another admission that human
rights are of paramount Importance.
Not only are people entitled to govern
themselves, as our Declaration OF lnde-
pence states, but they are entitled to an
opportunity to make a living for them
selves and their families.
1t is far cry from the conditions that
existed one or two generations ago IN the
eastern mills to this attempt TO better the
condition of mankind.
In the old days mill labor was a COM
modify, considered somewhat IN the same
light as packing boxes or twlne-lndeed
not to be given as much recognition as
these articles. Men, women and little
children went to work before dawn,
worked at monotonous and back-break-
ing jobs until late at night-for mere
pittance. They were subject to tines
from their bosses for lnfractlons OF pet
ty rules, they were tyranlZed IN man.
ner that no southern overseer OF pre-
war days would use toward his masters
valuable slaves. They were laid off
for long periods when the mill owners
wished to take such action, and being un-
able to save anything from their meagre
wages while working, suffered grievous-
IN
all, they dragged on into old age bent and
broken, with nothing TO tide them over
their last days except the public char-
ties or became burden on their own
families.
These conditions in the eastern mills
were undoubtedly duplicated in other in
dustries. We mention them because we
know they existed in New England until
labor became strong enough to make its
voice heard, and demanded and obtained
the needed reforms. The laborer forced
recognition of himself as human being
and not piece of machinery to be ex-
piloted by the owners.
= Mr.. Roosevelts program provides for
old-age insurance and for insurance
against unemployment. Even recogni-
tion that provision for these is state
and national duty, is long step for
ward. Actual initiation of legislation to
provide them is wonderful beyond words.
With the exception of providing for
those now too old to provide themselves
with old-age Insurance, the plan is based
on work by the individual, and in this is
cause for thanks. American men and
women do not want something for moth