Evening star., 1939-08-28
Minister Asks Luroer
OId-Age Pensions
Tokes Exception to Editorial
In Star Opposing Increased
Gronts to Stotes

To the Editor Of The Star:
"Old Age Benefits" the editorial car
ried in your issue of August 23, has been
read with no little interest by me. May
one in a. humble walk of life, and with
little other than the bare necessities Of
life, comment on the same?
You state that there is a necessity for
maintaining old-age insurance free from
the thought of the something moth
ing idea. May 1t be suggested that IN
the distress of the depression there were
thousands from whom not only some
thing -for-nothing" was taken, but even
all-for- nothing was taken? Thousands
who had lived industriously, frugally;
who had laid up sufficient to provide for
the needs of old age had their saw
ings, their property, their business, their
farms, their all swept away. Today
their children are unable to secure en-
ployment with compensation sufficient
to provide for themselves and their cur
rent needs, to say nothing of "honoring
their fathers and mothers" with the
care they so much deserve and need
Extensive surveys by the Federal
Youth Commission reveal that the most
favored class Of youth receive but SIS
per week. The Government has tried to
remedy this by setting wages at SIT, but
this Is not sufficient to meet the current
needs of the young people, and renders
it impossible for them to supply the
necessities of their parents. I say this in
ful1 consciousness ~ tho ctotav,,opt ~ -
learned sociologist at recent confer
ence that SIS per week was sufficient to
meet the needs of maintaining a home
and raising family.
With respect to your comment con-
corning "the early years of any con-
tributory social insurance system" etc,
may say that the man or woman who
lives an honest, law-abiding, moral life
has contributed to the welfare and pros
perity Of the Government to a sufficient
extent to guarantee him or her against
the fear of the privations of old age?
Those who have studied the situation
tell us that of the ten leading reasons
why the race is not making even greater
progress, one of them is the fear of the
sufferings to which old age is subject.
Regarding the address of Mr.. AItmeyer
In defense of the social security, may I
state that the social security program is
not accomplishing the results desired?
The publicity declaring that the benefits
OF social security have been advanced to
$40 per month is not fair statement
OF the situation. That the $40 is a pos
slbility where the State can match to
$50 is true. But if a State cannot
match to that amount, that State Is In
as sad position as before.
President Roosevelt tells us that the
South is the Nations No. l economic
problem. Accepting his statement, then
what of the South's great needs where
the State is able to match the Govern
ment only to the extent of IS or less?
Is this great Government willing to saw
to the people of the South: Since YOU
cannot contribute to an old-age security
your old folks must starve; care for your
old horses and mules in their old age or
we will prosecute you for cruelty to ami
mails, but keep silent concerning the
sufferings of your aged fathers and
mothers
THE REV. THos. E. BooRDE.
August "a,