6i2 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



Wall Street and the money power should be controlled by progressive 

 taxation. 



13. Complete reform of the courts. Neither Mr. Taft nor Mr. 

 Eoosevelt is a radical or a democrat, though both to a certain extent — 

 the latter increasingly — have followed the lead of the people. Mr. 

 Taft is called a conservative and is unpopular because he regards the 

 courts as sacrosanct; Mr. Eoosevelt is called a radical and is popular 

 because he attacks them. This is a healthy symptom. The injustice of 

 courts established to promote justice is monstrous ; their favoritism of 

 the rich is intolerable. The domination of the legislature by the courts, 

 their powers of injunction, imprisonment for contempt, convictions and 

 acquittals on technicalities, appeals on technicalities, delays purchased 

 by wealth and fines as an alternative to imprisonment, expert testimony, 

 insanity pleas, false charges and pleas by district attorneys as well as by 

 hired lawyers, all this must be swept away even at the risk of temporary 

 disorder. The judges who decide that an employers' liability law 

 passed by the legislature is not due process of law should be impeached. 

 If needs be lawyers should be disqualified for a time from becoming 

 judges or appearing at court. The domination of the lawyer and of 

 his point of view in political life is most unfortunate. 



14. Free medical service and the promotion of health in every way 

 that does not interfere with the freedom of the individual. The condi- 

 tions in medicine are not so bad as in law, but they are very bad. Great 

 Britain is just now setting an example in medical reform which we 

 should follow. It is better to promote health than to try to cure disease. 

 All medical and surgical service should be free to those having less than 

 the average income; no hospitals or clinics should be conducted as 

 charities. Private and endowed philanthropy — except as a temporary 

 expedient — is a public nuisance. The rich should be able to obtain the 

 best medical and surgical services only in or from the hospitals, and 

 should be charged in proportion to their means, the fee going to the 

 hospital, not to the physician, who should have a fixed salary. The 

 freedom of the individual, whether to carry on vivisection, to go with- 

 out vaccination, or the like, should not be interfered with without good 

 cause. Education, publicity, correct labeling and awards for damages 

 are the best ways to prevent malpractise, fake medicines and adulterated 

 foods. A billion dollars a year spent on the suppression of disease and 

 the promotion of health would be a profitable investment, if men can 

 be found to do the work. 



15. Old-age and disability pensions. Subsidies for all children. 

 People must be supported in old age and when disabled or submerged, 

 and this should be done by the state as soon as we can manage it. It is 

 not for the benefit of the state or the race, but is a reasonable demand 

 on humanity. The necessities of life should be supplied to every one 



