Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-09-25

me American ECONOMIC hsSocit'iou
Is body of American gentlemen, who
are actively engaged in social and econom-
ic studies, and who have organized for the
purpose of applying to the practical ques-
tons, rising from the present serious re
lations between American labor and capt.
tai, semitic methods of investigation
Among the officers and members of the
new association are such well-known i'll
structors and writers upon political econo-
my as DR.. II. c. Adams of Ann Arbor,
DR.. Ely of Johns Hopkins University Prof.
Johnston of Princeton, Prot. James of the
University of Pennsylvania, Prof. An
drews of Brown, Mr.. Seligman of Column
bia, Prof Clark of Smith, Prof. futile of
Cornell, Rev. Washington GLADDEN., Mr..
Eugene Schuyler, and others.
The first meeting of the association was
held in Saratoga, the second week in Sep
TENDER The platform adopted at this
meeting, lays out IA broader field of inves-
tigation and experiment than has ever
been attempted in this country before. 1t
was agreed by all the learned economists
present that the time had come to mark
out new lines for lvestigation and above
all, to repudiate the false and harmful
ldiSSuz-tdirG doctrine which has 50 long
prevailed in this country.
The association is not partisan; it does
not represent II free trade movement ; it is
not in the interest of any doctrine or
theory. 1t simply represents the scien-
titic party among American political
economists. Its object is, simply to let
light in upon the questions which are puz-
cling the statesmen and the social students
of the day. 1t proposes to 90 to work, by
the inductive method, to find out the true
economic relations of the labOrer and the
capitalist, of supply and demand. The
following brief abstract of the more inn
portant points in the platform of the asso-
citation will show its motive and It's char
acter:
!. We regard the state as an agency
whose positive assistance is one of the i'll
dispenSable conditions of human progress.
2. We believe that political economy is
still in IN early stage of its development.
We look not SO much TO speculation as to
historical and statistical study of actual
conditions of economic life for the salts
factory accomplishment of that develop
ment.
3 We hold that the conflict of labor and
capital has brought into prominencea vast
requires the united efforts, each in its own
sphere, of the church, of the state and of
science.
4. In the study of the industrial and
commercial policy of government we take
no partisan attitude. We believe in pro
gressve development of economic cOndi-
tiOnS which must be met by Il correspond
ing development of legislative policy.
The association organized itself for
| ri fnl \ nf u a
members was chosen to conduct the work
for the year, and this council was subdi-
/ vded into seven committees, having for
their provinces of work, respectively, the
subjects Of Labor Trade, Transportation,
Public Finance, Local Government, En-
change, and the general question of Econ
omic Theory. Each committee l. to be in
charge of a chairman, who is to superin-
tend the work of his co-laborers. Among
some of the subjects to be taken up in the
coming year are The Employment OF
Women in Factories, Liability of En-
ployers, Rent in the United States, Half
time in Labor, Municipal Finance and
the Silver Question. 1t is the plan to en-
courage research by the Offering of prizes
and by granting pecuniary assistance, un
der conditions, to those who incur eX
pense in such research.
The officers of the association are
President, Gen Francis A. Walker; vice
presidents, DR.. Henry G. Adams Prof
+. j. James and Prof. Clark secretary
DR.. Ely of Johns Hopkins. Thus abb,
olicered, and with IL large proportion o
the special talent in its field of investiga
ton enlisted, we may hope that the new
association will accomplish somethin.
during the year which will be of interes
and Valur TO the public