Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 January 1912 — Old Age Provisions [ARTICLE]

Old Age Provisions

Some System of Pensioning Has Become Imperative. Political Economists Allow Question ' . * Is a Hard One, Though a Begin- , ning Has Been Made. If any practical plan can be devised and carried into execution for pensioning aged, poor and infirm workingmen without injustice to any class, a condition of affairs will be established that can not fail to result in blessed alleviation of sufferings and in pleasant anticipations on the part of honest toilers that old age will not be a time of-constant fighting to keep the wolf, from the door, writes Col. M. A. Aldrich in the Chicago journal. The soldier and sailor, leaving the government- service after years .of faithful devotion to duty, are given pensions. In some of our states the admirable system of pensioning aged school teachers is incorporated in lavra. What general principle applies to the deserving soldier, sailor or teacher that does not bear with equal justice and force on the case of the deserving laborer? L: Such reasoning may be denominated as socialism by those who object to it, ' Some critics may regard it as something even worse than tbatNevertheiess, it “looks good” to the; laborer. > In the coming session df the British parliament, efforts will be made to secure favorable action on the labor insurance bill Introduced last May by Lloyd George. Success in such efforts Is not assured. Although a majority of the labor party will support the measure, a strong and seemingly determined minority will oppose it. This opposition is directed against the feature of the bill bearing on “tmemployment,” the provision that no workingman shall profit fromthe workings I

of the measure who is out of work because of any labor dispute directly affecting him. Again, the . influence of the medical men of the kingdom appears to be solid against the measure—they claiming that adequate provision is not made tor their recompense tor professional services and medicine. Even the most earnest supporters of the whole plan are forced to admit that the provisions in regard to the “unemployed” and to the "health insurance” are complicated. It does not appear likely that parliament will agree to the measure without Important compromises. But. in the very fact of the Introduction of such a biji Is an element of hope for the workingmen.