The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-31
THE SOCIAL PROBLEM.
The Question of What II Is Discuss
ed by DIR. l.. G. Powers.

|
has been in session since Monday at tn
Hamline NJ. E. Church. closed last nigh
with an address by DR.. l.. G. Powers
chief statistician OF the Census. Rev A
H. Ames presided in the absence OF Rev
DR.. Lucien Clark. the presiding elder c
the District, and introduced the speaker
to large audience of men and womeI
who attentiveIy followed DR.. Powers IL
his discourse. what is the Social Prob
1em?" BY way OF introducing his subject
DR.. Powers prefaced his address with the
definition: "The social problem is the
problem Of man living with his fellows in
organized society. When we ask what is
the social problem. we enquire, How shall
men live in society that they may secure
the greatest possible good for all?
| There are many factors or elements
which enter into this problem" said DIR.
| Powers. Some of them had their exist
ence before the human race had formed
any social organization. They began with
the birth of man. He existed as a man
before he became social being. He
brings, therefore, into society all his
for satisfaction. whether he lives by him.
self or makes his home among his fellows.
Among these needs, the most noteworthy
are those which are vital to the preserva-
tion of life. Man must be protected
against the enemies that would destroy;
he must have food and in most climates
raiment and shelter. Primitive man cr-
ganized society to assist him in securing
these objects. including protection against
wild beasts and all that could modest or
make afraid. The social problem accord
ingly, has its basis resting upon these
needs of the individual.
THE social problem divides itself into
two great parts. The first relates to the
satisfaction of the needs of man as an
individual. The second is connected with
the qualification of the desires and the
emotions which he experiences only as
member of society. The first part of this
problem is summed up in the enquiries:
How to protect human life; how to feed
the hungry; how to clothe the naked. and
give shelter and protection against all
that can injure or make afraid. The sec
ond is expressed in the questions: How to
undo the heavy burdens that rest upon
the unfortunate; how to break the yoke
Of the oppressed and let them go free;
how to do away with social inequalities,
secure equal and exact justice for all. and
to give liberty to all who are in bond
servants of want. ignorance, or sin. In
its essential the social problem is the
same when the first primitive clan or
tribe was organized, ard yet that problem
Is never the same in any two ages nor in
the midst OF any two nations. 1t varies
with the conditions under which people
exist. and in connection with which they
enter into or maintain organized society.
With the passage of centuries the social
problem apprOXimateS a solution which
is never fully wrought out Each age and
nation contributes it's share to the final
solution of the social problem and thus
assists the race in approaching its final !
goal"
The speaker then went on to describe |
the efforts Of society in the past and |
present to solve the social problem This |
brought him to discuss the achievements
Of society, and DR.. Powers said: THE |
present census, when completed will IN
luestionably show that the visible, ma
terial wealth in this country now has
l value of $50, 10000 ,0C0. This is an adii-
ton since 1890 of $4,000, 100000. Tbs
sum added to our national wealth in the
asst decade, as you all know are the say
ngs Of our people in that period. They
we're the savings of a people who were
better fed. clothed, and housed than any
equal number of human beings in any
,ther land or time. and yet it is saw
ng greater than all the people of the
Western Continent had been abe to make
rom the discovery of Columbus to the |
'reaking out of the civil war. 1t is a
aving which represents more houses and
more furniture in the home, {
more implements and machinery to as
list man in his work. more and better |
l
lothes. good books. and personal adorn-
1ent than the entire race had saved dur {
ng all the countless ages of struggles q
rom Adam to the Declaration Of our {
Imerican Independence.
THE last century witnessed in our
lidst an enormous application of steam, c
alter, and horse power in the perform
nee OF human work. The horses in Cur {
iidst. with our improved machinery, en- Y
BILE the S,O00,O00 workers of American r
lrms to produce as much and as ralua- a
lie material for food and clothes as the 6
10. 600, 900 people in China, or all the in {
abitants OF Europe, outside of Russia. | n
ur steam driven factory machinery en- {
bles one man to prepare as many yards 1
cloth as 100 in the Orient. AS a-Iesult, d
IT people produce all the food that they | O
and enough to feed many mil Il
Ons in Europe and Asia. d
|
:. turn out finished cloth and machinery d
Id other products sufficient for our own
,e and to enable US to send vast quaint
es to sell in the markets of the globe"
Further on in his discourse DR.. Powers II
lid: Having solved the problem of
lie ancients. we come now to the solu-
on of the problem Of the next century.
lr statesmen are not perplexed over the \
-oblem how to produce enough to keep
market for our surplus products. This S
a problem which presents many enig
as to even the best mind and the stout
{ heart. The social problem. SO far as |
relates 70 wealth.. said the speaker.
g vastly different in cur day and land W
ON what 1t was in the past. The diff
renee marks a beneficent movement in
ciety. the most marvellous in the his 81
ry of the race. Turn where we will we
eet some phase of the problem CT the S,
strihution of wealth-the special prob
N of the nineteenth and twentieth Gen.
ries. The so-called labor problem is I
lie of The most prominent Of these
lases II is largely q question of how !
Dor and capital shall wisely and eluita-
Y divide the wealth which they jointly =,
cate. The same problem is involved in
her forms in our political and econonl- =.
discussion of the standard of money. IL
ee trade and protection. the rsgili-
N of transportation charges. and count r..
IS other topics of public interest. Fur -
or. the cure OF cur moral ills is CO. u.
dinated with the economic questions 80
wealth creation and distribution"
his address. DR.. Powers said: Ca
he distribution of wealth among the
sscs of the people lags and will continue pr
lag until they are taught fully to ap-
,ciate and desire the things which are
resented by their propCrtionate share Al