The same argument applies to old age pensions. Most red-blooded Americans are willing to assume responsibility for the support of themselves and their families, and gladly contribute in some fair and equitable manner, through appropriate processes of taxation, towards pensioning those who bear arms in defense of our common flag, and for the dignity of our country, and they are also willing to pay their share towards the maintenance of the helpless and the unfortunate few. But it is no evidence of yellow that some object to the burden of paying pensions to men and women who have no other claim thereto than that they have grown old and have failed to provide for themselves. Take the case home and apply it to yourself and your family. Do you desire the government to promise you and your children a pension independent of the manner in which you and they acquit yourselves? Or would you prefer to face the future in the belief that if you win, through merit, the rewards of victory will be yours to enjoy, and if you lose you will be expected to suffer the consequences. In other words do you desire the government to pension you simply because you hold a poor hand or play a good hand badly? What effect do you think the promise of old age pension would have upon the rising generation? Is not the youth of America already sufficiently wanting in self-reliance? The only other way thus far proposed by which the government shall support its employees in old age, is by means of guardianship. This plan seems to proceed upon the theory that those who are fortunate enough to secure government positions, are necessarily unable to look after their own affairs, and therefore are entitled to a guardian. The proposition is that the government shall take charge of a portion of the earnings of this favored set of American citizens—withhold part of their salary and deal it out to them as a mother does candy to her baby lest it overeat or consume it too soon. It is a pretty weak citizen who needs a guardian, and those who do—provided they are _compos mentis_ and fourteen years of age—are entitled under the laws of most states to select their own. Five years’ experience led me to recognize that new clerks as a rule are better than old ones. Those who come with any enthusiasm whatever make very rapid advancement in efficiency, but in a very few years the enthusiasm vanishes and hope of advancement is based entirely on seniority of service.