of Governor Herbert R. O'Conor 235

sick of your own people, but also because of your broader interest in the
problem of the chronic sick, and the consistent leadership which you have ex-
tended in this connection. An institution which is sufficiently alive and grow-
ing, to change its program from time to time, to adapt its services to meet
changing needs and to take advantage of advances in our knowledge of social
and physical ills, is to be highly commended.

I am especially happy to visit the Hebrew Home for Aged and Infirm at
Levindale today, and to observe what this institution has accomplished toward
the solution of a problem with which we are all very deeply concerned.

This demonstration which you have given here of what can be accomplished
on behalf of the sick and the aged is but another indication of the manner in
which private philanthropy has furnished leadership through many decades.
I think it is important to recognize that the long term objectives of both
public and private welfare agencies are the same, though the role which each
must play may be different. One method of social organization is through
voluntary endeavor; another is through government.

This does not mean overlapping of services, duplication of effort, nor
dissipation of money in unnecessary or inefficient activities. It does mean
that such an institution as the Hebrew Home for the Aged and Infirm acts for
the group of people which it has chosen to serve, and government must extend
to the larger community the benefits of the experiences of this and like institu-
tions. It does mean that the State and voluntary associations must work out a
comprehensive view of the total picture, embracing all the people and all of
their problems. When this is done a clear-cut definition of the sector in which
each is to operate can be made.

Setting public agencies on one side and private agencies on the other is
meaningless. You cannot build a wall between them, because both are con-
cerned with the welfare of the family, the security of the aged, with safe-
guards of childhood, with protection against illness and disease and with other
nationwide social problems. The line where they divide, and that of course
means also the line where their services must meet and supplement each other,
cuts across all these human needs.

Our government must accept responsibility for basic security; public pro-
visions are designed to carry the heavy burden of mass protection, to lay a
broad foundation for the. welfare of all the people. This is a legitimate func-
tion of democratic government. The fact that it is a function of government,
however,. places upon it certain limitations. Public provisions necessarily
represent a kind of lowest common denominator, below which individuals should
not fall. But by and large the interpretation of need must be social rather
than individual. And because the provisions which are made are part of our
established legal structure their mobility is somewhat restricted. They can go
only as far as the law allows; where special problems or needs develop, there
must be further legal sanctions before further advances can be made.

This is not so to the same extent of private philanthropy. Here you have
an opportunity to forge ahead beyond the boundaries of our present knowledge.
Historically, you have made a lasting and permanent contribution to the cause
of human welfare. Groups of citizens, coming together for a common purpose
on behalf of their fellowmen, have recognized, in advance of the general popu-
lace, the best way to meet a special need and have been able to make that