The San Francisco call., 1897-06-28
Scott F. Hershey, Ph,D.,
Of Boston, Tells All
About It.
Evils of Money Greed. Trusts,
Illiteraoy and PauperLsm
Exploited.
The Talented Speaker Lays the Entire
Trouble at the Door of Unre-
stricted immigration.

Scott F. Hershey, Ph.D., of Boston,
lectured yesterday at Metropolitan Tenn
pie under the auspices of the Lincoln
Club, his subject being, Good Citizen
ship and the Duties Which Confront It."
Drs. George Derrick and Terry. w. Hess,
J. Mearns, J. Kimball, Mrs. E. Richard
son, Mrs. a. Martin, Mrs. Tenney and
Mrs. Levitt welcomed The speaker and sat
with him on the stage.
IF We want gooi government aud
happy homes, Just rights and universal
liberty in the spirit OF toleranca Dy all
classes, the speaker said in opening his
address, I'VE must have good citizenship,
more so in this country than any other
IN earth.
Political am mbition and money greed
are two things that threaten the integrity
OF our institutions and our citizenship.
The active political power of the
Nation, TO the extent of 80 per cent, en-
anates from our cities and not from the
country, hence it is obvious where the
start must be made in a reform move
ment. Berlin is run at one-half the ex.
pense OF New York, the most extravagant
municipality in the world. This as we'll
as many other things that strike us most
forcibly brings up the inquiry as 10 the
danger of American government Decom-
ing failure.
Money greed among our most intelli-
gent mon OF business circles. who have no
time to devote 10 political duties, is TO be
deplored as much as the regard of m en-
that public office is a market where they
can go to purchase an opportunity TO de-
fraud the people.
"A United States Senator once told me
he gave his vote and one speech for
$500 acknowledging he spoke against
n s convictions.
Party legislation in State and National
affairs is responsible for much OF the harm
that is done, each political party dong
Its best to injure the others and entirely
losing its opportunity to do good 10 the
country.
The tariff question illustrates this
point. Our Congress is losing time while
our industries and commercial life are
inactive awaiting results, and all the delay
is on account of the time taken 10 adjust
party interests. | believe il would be a
good thing to take the entire matter of tie
tariff out OF the hands Of Congress ana
leave its ad judication to the merchants of
the country, trained business men.
"a great danger we also are being con-
tronted with, is the trusts. The coal trust
cleared $7l, 600 900 last year; tbs leather
and other trusts cleared $110. 000. 900 more.
This is downright robbery, as all this
money is taken from the poor. Some day
the masses are bound TO rise against such
robbery and oppression and the commune
or even reign of bloodshed, such as the
French experienced in 1893 will be the
result.
Organized illiteracy is another danger.
Out of voting population OF 1900, 900
there are 8 500, 600 who can neither read
nor write. These are principally foreign
ers. In Boston there are five ilIiterates OF
foreign extraction to two Americans.
THE growth Of crime Is another dam
ger. There Is no country in the world
where it has increased as it has in the
United States, aud it Is principally among
children or the young people. Fifty years
criminals were as one to a population
of $500 Now the ratio has increased to
one to every 1861 OF our population.
"Unrestrained immigration has much
to 90 with this, as the degree OF illiterates
is FIVE times greater among foreigners
than it Is among Americans. There are
three times more foreign criminals in our
jails than there are Americans, and the
ratio is about the same with the mum Der
of paupers who are sapping out the vitality
of our land"