The Washington herald., 1909-05-09
Ideal Soeial Conditions.

Dr.. Edwin 7. Devipe. in a recent lee
ture on ideal social conditions, specified
some OF the essential requirements OF
normal community life. They Included
a sound physical heredity. the protection
Of childhood. a prolonged working period.
so that middle-aged workers shall not be
thrown out of employment 10 make way
for younger men and women; freedom
from preventable disease and from pro-
fsssional crime. some general system OF
insurance against the ordinary contin-
gencies Of life, the adaptation OF educa-
tioa 10 the needs OF youth, a liberal
system Of relief TO TIE unfortunate. a
reasonably high standard OF living. and
the redeeming and purifying influence
OF a truly social religion Dr. Devine
thought these reasonable demands. which
he hoped some day 70 see put into
political platform They are not fan
tasticaI in his judgment. nor visionary.
No revolutionary principles need be in
voked 70 obtain them.
However. there would have to be q con-
siderable revolution IN public sentiment.
q revision OF the point Of view from
which social conditions and the respon-
sibnity OF the community therefor are
regarded. and a conversion Of taxpayers
TO the belief that public expenditures for
social ends is justihable and economical
Dr. Devine thinks that these changes
in pabIIc opinion may eventually be
brought about His expectation is thai
with fuller knowledge there Will come a
corresponding enlargement OF the sphere
Of legitimate public control. with the full
support OF the courts. The opposition OF
the courts TO social legislation he at
tributes TO Unfamiliarity with social
facts and lack OF specific information,
and not 70 venality OF corruption. So
with journalistic unfriendliness 70
schemes Of social reform. an attitude
which is rapidly changing. Il is not sur
priSing that there should be defective
general appreciation OF subject which
has been specialized, fun acquaintance
with which Is as yet only the privilege
Of few.
Equally hopeful IS Dr.. Devine OF
friendlier feeling on the part OF the
taxpayer. He believes II can be shown
tba. IDEAL conditions oF life and work
are cheaper than wrongful conditions.
producing misery and suffering and
crime Of which the community is forced
70 take account Expenditure fo- social
Improvement he looks upon not as the
indulgence Of altruistic sentiment only.
but as sound financial investment. III
would be neither uneconomic nor unpro- !
suctive- The cost Of our penal iastitu- !
tons and Of fighting the criminal classes. /
for example. is greater than would be
the cost OF reformative measures and
adequate methods Of social defense. No
community. gays Dr. Devine. is so poor
that i can afford to permit typhoid
fever for lack OF a filter. or inefficient
children for lack Of good schools. or
vsywsrd girls for lack Of protection. or /
exploited childhood for lack OF a factory
Inspector. OF loss from Industrial acct I
dents for lack OF q compensation law
or an insurance system
Whatever We may think OF sociology /
as an exact science. we may agree upon |
certain measures OF social reform Dr..
Devine insists that the natural allies OF 1
social work are the fnanciers. the sani- |
tsriaas. the engineers. and the captains
Of industry. 1t Is founded on justice, 4
and It's purpose IS human efficiency and I
Webbing. IF the proper study OF man 4
kind g man, surely there is no worthisr 1
cause for the consideration Of the wise
and intelligent than that which seeks
70 realize higher ideals OF social life.