The record-union., 1899-05-18
The Day Session Devoted Principally to
the Work Of Committees.
DR.. Charles r. Henderson, Professor
of Sociology of the University
of Chicago and President of
the National Association, De-
& Hvers the Annual Address at
the Evening Session.

CINCINNATI, May 1.-THE sixth
National Conference of Charities and
Corrections began here to-day for ITS
annual session of one week. The OIL
GERS are: President, Charles r. Hen
,derson, Professor of Sociology in the
University of Chicago; General Secre-
tary, Hastings H. Hart of Chicago;
Treasurer, Levi T. Barbour of Detroit.
To-day was devoted to the work of
committees and various receptions.
AT the opening public session tonight
there was a large attendance. Ad-
dresses of welcome We're delivered by
{ Mayor Gustave Tafel and Governor Asa
So Bushnell, with response by Hon.
Robert Treat Paine of Boston. The ar
g-umeSt Of Governor Bushnell of nom
partisan management was applauded.
fThe feature of the evening was the
annual address by DR.. Charles r. Hen
derson, professor of sociology in the
University of Chicago, and President of
the National Association of Charities
and Corrections
President Henderson said, in part
I'VE may find a unifying and co-or-
dinating idea in the theme, The Rela-
tdon of Philanthropy to Social Order and
Progress The test of any measure of
charity or correction is in its social
erect, its tendency to secure the con-
ditions of survival and of advance. Re-
Election upon experience yields theory;
and without guiding principles we are
drifting, not navigating The costs of
civilization up to this hour involve
much degradation. The causes of inc
quality are not only industrial and po-
litical. but biological. Hence, while pau
perism and other defects win be re-
duced, the process of amelioration will
be slow Under any systems of social
Ism and granting all its promises real
lied. Physiological defect would require
some method of charity. Our problem
is to reconcile the refined sentiments of
altruism with economy in administra-
ton, and with. a constant and progress
ing elimination of the unfit by humane
means. Philanthropy deals directly
with paupers and criminals, but it's ef-
fects are felt throughout society. We
are serving the whole community and
not merely the submerged
Criminal law and prison manage
ment are slowly but surely modified by
evolutionary science and the new So
scial pedagogy. Instead of vengeance
and instructive reaction against harm
full acts We are consciously bending
measures to the aims of education and
s selection Manual training. parole and
fndeterminate sentence illustrate the
educational purpose; the progressive
sentence indicates the selective and
eliminative idea.
The methods of dealing with the
feeble minded are coming more and
more definitely under the control of a
clear vision of social welfare. The
children are taught all they can learn.
but in custody as gentle as can be they
are prevented from becoming the ances-
tors of degenerates. Our insane asy-
'lums, with vast immediate cost, will be
found economical and merciful in the
end, because they further social selec-
tion, and, in. some degree, hinder the
increase of defect.
In public and private relief we are
coming slowly to consider the remote
social effect Of dealing with the de-
pendent. Following the mastery classi-
fication of Charles Booth. we are seek
ing mode of mitigating the distress of
the unemployed without dragging down
to their level the genuine 'workiugman >
The administration of outdoor relief ON
the basis Of better statistics. will he
subjected to severe criticism in rela-
tion to its economic consequences. The
seducable will be restored to self-sup-
porting life; but the uneducable will be
removed from the backs of the compe-