The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-29
SCIENTISTS MEET
At PHILADELPHIA
Or. Spitzka, of Columbia Adj
vanceS Unique Theory
DISCUSSES THE BRAIN
RidieuIes the Idea That a Criminal
RidicuIes the Idea That a Criminal
Brain Is Different From Normal
Type-Many Papers Read
at Various Meetings.

Philadelphia, December 2S.-1he annual
convention Of the American Association
for the Advance of Science was formerly
opened today at the University of Penn
sylvania Meetings were held yesterday
by the several sections.
The convention was called to order by
the retiring president, Carroll D. Wright,
Reconnaissance of labor. After brief
address. Mr. Wright introduced the pres
ident-elect, DR.. W. G. Farrow, who also
spoke briefly Reports were read by the
general, permanent and local secretaries,
after which the general session adjourn
ed and the various sections went into
separate sessions.
More than one hundred papers were
read at the various meetings. One OF the
interesting papers of the day was that
read by DR.. A. spitzka of Columbia
university on the subject of brains of
intellectual persons, of individuals of va
rious races and of criminals" He ridi-
culed the idea that the criminal brain
was of a decidedly different type from
that of the ordinary person. He main
tanned that the classification of crlmi-
mails must rest upon the observation of
each Individual criminal, together with
his antecedant history.
Better Brains In America.
Speaking of the brains of the various
races, DR.. Spitzka said that eventually
the bigger and better brains will be found
on the American continent, because no
where in the world is the mixture of the
races-ehiehy Teutonic, Celto-Roman and
Slavonie-going on so actively as here.
The workings of the award of the an
thracite coal strike commission were re-
viewed by w. II. Taylor of the st. Clair
Coal company of Pennsylvania before the
section on social and economic. science.
He said the feeling of sensitiveness and
irritation in the anthracite region has not
lessened, but on the contrary is smoul-
dering fire which breaks out at the least
provocation.
The principal feature of the evening
was the annual address Of the retiring
president Of the American Association for
the Advancement of Science, the Hon.
Carroll D. Wright. Mr.. Wright's sub
1ect was Science and Economics" He
called attention to the great change in
the attitude of religion toward science,
the latter being no longer considered a
menace to the former. He took up the
relation that science bears to everyday
life, and reviewed the great progress
made by PEOPLE through its influence.
Tariff and Other Questions.
He spoke of various questions before
the world today and how they are being
treated by science. On the tariff question,
he said that science. as yet, had done lit
tie in solving this question, but he con-
ceived that 1t may and will do much in
modifying the extreme views on either
side that are held by economists, poll
ticians and statesmen. He believed that
tariff questions are more sociological
than economic. Until the conditions of
the different peoples that are engaged
in competing Industries are more thor
oughly equalzed acting together, could
not get rid of some form of protective
tariff; but when thorough scientific meth
COS and the application of scientific prin-
ciples to industry on a broad scale the
condition of the people becomes more
thoroughly equalized. he doubted If both
parties together would be able to pre-
serve legislation relative to an expediency
now felt to be important.
A reception followed the meeting of the
association tonight.