The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-11-13


they should consider the saloon bust
ness legitimate and should engage in
it.
They were just as hostile to the
concert saloons as the reformers
we're. They we're ready to cooperate
with the reformers in suppressing
these dens of iniquity. Here was a
condition, not theory, confronting
the reformers, and like wise and good
men they accepted the situation,
made use of the better class of
saloonkeepers and were content with
part of loaf when they could not
get whole one. This gives you an
idea of the methods of work adopted
by the social settlements, and surely
they must commend themselves to
the Judgment of all sober minded
people.
Helps Solve Labor Problem.
There are other social settlements in
Chicago which [ visited, but | cannot
speak of them all in this article,
and what l have now said will give
correct idea of the nature and work of
the social settlement. There is an
other very important question which
l wish to discuss, viz: What are
social settlements doing to solve
labor problems9
The facts just stated supply the
answer to this question. No one, of
course, holds that the social settle
ment is complete solution Of labor
problems. None but the fool or the
fanatic imagines that these great
and complicated problems can be
solved by the application of single
idea or the adoption of single
method of reform. But many prin-
ciples must be applied, many.meth-
DDS adopted, different phases of the
great problem must be dealt with
separately. Among these agencies of
reform the social settlement takes its
place, and it is very important
place.
Now, then, the social settlement,
in the first place, helps to solve the
labor problem by bringing the ex-
tremes of society together in neigh
borly and fraternal association. This
is its central thought and aim. 1t
tries to substitute education. for illit-
eracy, refinement for coarseness, NOR
atty for immortality. 1t does this,
not in patronizng, pharisaic spirit,
but in human, neighborly, brot her
ly way. 1t shows by actual work
that all men are brothers, and all
should have an equal opportunity to
gain good livelihood, education,
freedom and happiness. 1t is per-
fectly evident that the labor conflict
can never be settled as long as the
parties to that conflict live and act
as enemies and not as human beings.
There is ignorance ard prejudice on
both sides which must be removed
before the relations of the two par
ties can be improved. Economic edu-
cation is the great need of the hour.
Social settlement is means to this
end. Here are gathered together
educated, refined, sympathetic men
and women, from our colleges and
the so-called better classes, who
identify themselves with the people
of the community among whom they
live. They have thought deeply on
social and industrial problems, and
they can impart their thoughts to
their uneducated and poor neigh
bors in such way as to permanent
ly influence them for good.
At both Hull House and "The
Commons" there are debating clubs,
in which absolute liberty of thought
and speech are allowed.
Such meetings might be of great
educational value. 1t would do some
of our professors of political econ
omy good to go to these meetings,
and it would do their students
still more good. The professor s
ipse dirit would not be so readily
accepted by the hard-hearted work
ingmen as it is by docile students,
and the students would find that
they must fortify themselves with
facts and reasons much more strong
ly than most of them do, if they are
ever to influence the working classes.
The first service, then, and per-
haps the chief service, which the
social settlement is rendering to the
cause of labor is the pouring into
the crowded centers of our cities the
sympathy and culture of the edu-
Gated classes.