The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-15
A SENSATIONAL SOCIOLOGIST.

Those who have time to keep within sight
of the theoretical sociologists who are am
bilious to publish volumes or to air their
views in quantities devoted to alleged eco
nomics are not surprised by their eccentric
tiles. Those who do not keep within sight
of these peculiar people are liable to be
shocked and grieved. particularly if they
happen to come across the last issue of the
American Journal of Sociology, which is
published under the auspices of Chicago
University which, at its founding by Mr.
Rockefeller, heralded as the central
dispensary of Baptist faith and practice in
all it's pristine purity and positiveness I'm
agine the CONSERVATION of the excellent
brother who sits down to the perusal of the
last issue of the periodical of the Chicago
University swelling with feelings of pride
and gratitude, when, running over its title
page for the most edifying article, his eyes
fall upon the caption, 1.-The Social Value
of the Saloon" For moment he NAV
upon some other line to ascertain if they
are not playing him a trick He may even
resort to tests to make sure if there is not
some arrangement in his mental faculties
He will find nothing of the kind He is
not the victim of optical illusion, nor has
a cog in his mental machinery slipped
Scores have read it and have been so much
astonished that hundreds and thousands
have now come to know that the Chicago
Universitys Journal of Sociology has an
article on THE Social Value of the Saloon"
The sincerely good who have read the ar
ticle must have been made sore of heart
because it is almost wholly eulogistic of an
institution whose influence the church re-
CARDS as entirely pernicious, and which Is
regarded by large majority of the people
as an institution which more than any
other must be regulated by law
Because Mr.. Rockefeller has created the
Chicago University it has been assumed
that nothing would be taught by it's pro-
fessors in conflict with the opinions and
methods by which it's founder has attained
his wealth. To overcome such prejudice it
is fair to say that Chicago University has
been most liberal. Indeed it may not
be too much to say that in its efforts to
do something for the benefit of the mass
the charge of absurdities which, if they had
been in practice for years, would have left
no capitalists to endow universities
1t seems that the management of the in
stitution, for reasons which it would be un-
just to state without full knowledge, con-
ceived the project of setting an expert to
investigate the saloon Gin a broad and
scientific spirit" The result of that investi-
cation has been put into an article with
the caption alluded to. The expert, inves-
tigating on broad scientific grounds, finds
that the saloon is not only the working
mans only club, but is place where he
can get loans of money find books and pa
stands not only for social opportunity, but
affords the conditions of sociability."
1t may have been the purpose of this So
biologist to extol the social value Of the
saloon in order 10 indicate to those who
would do something for the masses in Cit
les the lines which they must pursue in
order to succeed. That is. the phianthro-
pists must establish institutions as nearly
like the saloon as possible II they expect
TO do anything for what they are pleased
TO regard as the laboring man. This, how
ever does not appear from the article.
1t is the social value of the saloon" Of
which 1t speaks.
The most useful lesson which the article
can convey is the utter unreliabiity of the
conclusions of such sociologists They do
not consider SUBJECTS in all their bearings