Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 87, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 January 1914 — MOTHERS’ PENSIONS. [ARTICLE]

MOTHERS’ PENSIONS.

I he Illinois law granting pensions to indigent mothers does not seem to be working altogether satisfactorily. The United Charities organization of Chicago has been investigating the subject, .and it reports as follows: Since the passing'.of this law families having members anil connections with resources that would tide them over emergencies dec lino to use them and insistently claim their share of •siaie aid, thus weakening the moral fiber and making it diflicult for private- ehiarities to induce relatives to help their kin. The result is one that might very reasonably have been anticipated. Nor is there any reason to be surprised at the information that ’ wife desertion has increased alarmingly.” The effc t of such legislation is greatly to weaken the sense of family responsibility. ‘‘All sorts of families who might need help are," so it is said, "referred to their supposed claims for state aid by relatives who otherwise might do their part.” “When." it is said further, “ relatives of these families have seen them getting state relief they consider themselves freed of any responsibility and it is virtually impossible to get any help from them now.” In this latter case state relief has been withdrawn since it is found that under the law the people who were getting it were not entitled to it. Yet their relatives refuse to care for them. Undoubtedly there are many who make the possibility of getting state help a pretext for refusing to care for their relatives. If these things are true, and they are testified to by those who must be presumed to be authorities, one can only conclude that the Illinois law is having a very demoralizing ■influence. It puts a premium, on pauperism, and weakens and even destroys that feeling of responsibility which the family should have for its weak and Unfortunate members; As the strength of society and the state is rooted in the family, anything that weakens, the family weakens the state and society. There must, of course, be public charity, but it ought to be administered in such a way as to stimulate self-help as far as possible. We can not convert the state into a universal parent without breaking down the resourcefulness and initiative of the citizen. This mothers’ pension scheme is dangerous, not because it affords relief to those who need it, but because it affords relief in the wrong way. In this state every effort is made to compel fathers to support their families, which is as it should

be. It is very fortunate that our legislature did not a year ago enact • a mothers’ pension law. For we are 1 getting a good deal of light op the' subject, and shall get more.