Dear Editor,
The following poem is attributed to Clarence J. Brown, Ohio's 36th Lieutenant Governor (1919-1923).
It was published by the Daily News, Manhattan Borough, Nov. 4, 1919.
ODE TO THE
WELFARE STATE
(Democratic Dialogue)
Father, must I go to work?
No, my lucky son.
We're living now on easy street
On dough from Washington.
We've left it up to Uncle Sam,
So don't get exercised
Nobody has to give a damn -
We've all been subsidized.
But, if Sam treats us so well
And feeds us milk and honey,
Please daddy, tell me what the hell
He's going to use for money?
Don't worry, bub, there's not a hitch
In this here noble plan -
He simply soaks the filthy rich
And helps the common man.
But, father won't there come a time
When they run out of cash
And we have left them not a dime?
When things will go to smash?
My faith in you is shrinking son,
You nosy little brat;
You do too much thinking, son
To be a Democrat.
William J. Patsche
St. Clairsville
