The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-04

Dr. Ira w. HOWerth, assistant pro-
fessor Of sociology at the University of
Chicago, delivered the first lecture in
the Chicago university extension course
before large audience at Central Park
M. b. Church last evening. The subject
was 'The Social Question of Today"
DR.. Howerth said at the outset that
the social question presented a double
aspect. 1t would always be found to be
a problem of restricting the opportuni-
ties Of organized selfishness.
"Selfishness is general" declared DR..
Howerth, "and it is an illusion to sup
pose that one class of society is alto
gether virtuous and heroic, while an
other is moved only by the spirit of
narrowness and greed. But the fact
that, generally speaking, all men are
selfish, does not deny the existence of
the social problem of restricting the
opportunities of selfishness with those
who have at a given time the power to
Cypress their fellows. The real ques-
ton is as to whether injustice exists.
Where this power is lodged today, and
how it manifests itself, may be more
clearly perceived by tracing briefly the
evolution of the social question"
Not Primarily Political.
Dr. Howerth asserted that inasmuch
as the social question is no longer
primarily political question, political
liberty having been achieved, the great
opportunity for selfish domination lies
with that class of persons who have
secured control of the great industrial
forces of the nation and have en-
trenched themselves behind the econo-
mic institutions upon which the well
fare of society so largely depends. The
social question of today, therefore, is
chiefly an industrial or economic ques-
ton. 1t is the problem of restrict
ing the power of wealth, and Of secur-
ing for the people a higher degree Of
economic freedom.
"It comes as Prof. Wagner, of Ger
many has expressed it, of the con-
seriousness Of contradiction between
liberty and equality which is being
realized in political life"
I'VE pride ourselves upon the immense
product OF our industry, but We overlook
the fearful waste of materials and ener-
gy and life involved in it. If our indus
and directed SO as to eliminate the waste
of modern industry, we might easily pro-
duce double the amount of wealth we
equitable distribution of wealth is how
ever. the most immediate question con.
fronting US No one will seriously con-
producers. of it in exact proportion to
their services in wealth production. How
to apportion wealth so that Individual re-
ward will correspond to individual merit
is the practical social question OF today.
1t Is a Glass Question.
''And this question m spite of the
boasted equality which prevails in this
country, has assumed the nature of a
class question. True, we have no heredi-
tary class privileges in America, and no
caste in the Oriental sense, but we have
comparatively small number of people
who control the material Instruments of
production, and whose immediate inter-
ests seem to lie in the strict preserva-
ton of the modern industrial order;
while, on the other hand we have the ma
jority of our people dependent for their
livelihood upon their success in gaining
access to the means OF production, that
IS to say, dependent upon those who con-
troll these means.
1.-The immediate interests Of this ma
jority are involved in a change of the
present industrial order In the direction
Of economic democracy, rather than in
Its preservation in its present form. 1t is
of interests between the laborer and the
capitalist. There is no strict Identity
and those who claim it are the victims
of loose thinking, or are unconsciously
biased by their own immediate interests"
/ In col clusion DR.. Howerth said:
"The emphasis I have laid upon our
economic institutions and the necessity
of securing for the people economic free
dom and an equitable distribution of the
worlds goods, must not be taken as an
satisfaction of our material needs, Is
the highest thing that can be aimed at
It is true now as ever that man does not
live by bread alone. But, as Amiel said
The animal in us must be satisfied first
and we must Danish from among us all
suffering which is superfluous and has its
origin In social arrangements, before we
can return to spiritual goods