Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-17
Some Things You Want to Know
Social Scientists Meeting.

Though one o. the nrst inntitutions In
the field for he study % political and
social science. the academy b. no means Is
alone today. Ths Civic Forum Of New
York. Is another q the clearing houses o.
social service IDEAS and speakers from al
parts Of the world are brought to New
York 70 enrich its fund Of Information on
such topics England has found TIA no
matter how radical men may become in
their utterances. it is better 90 have abso-
lutte free speech than to suppress extreme
radicalism. Even the anarchist there Is
allowed to proclaim his views to his hearts
content or at least as long a. he has viii
ing auditors. and while he may not add
anything worth while to the discussion, the
very privilege Of talking disarms his criti-
cisn and makes him a harmless crank
Things are often proposed by MEMBER OF
the academy which. b. no means. would
meet the approval OF a majority OK the
members, but all phases Of every question
deserve 70 be presented. IN the theory Of
the academy. And in the end they all have
been found to contribute in varying degrees
to the solution Of the problems involved
Recently. under a grant from the Car
negie Institution Of Washington. a writer
has undertaken % publish-"Who' Who"
OF the scientific men OF America In gath
ering the names Of those entitled TO be
ranked among his number. ne finds that
there are about 4.O0 strictly high class
scientific men: and while political and So
ciaI science may not head the list, 1t Is
shown that hundreds have made repura-
tons FOR having conducted race-beuefIting
studies in this branch Of service. This blue
book Of scientific men is but the prelim-
mary step in a study Of the mental and
physical qualities Of the men VINO make
up the ~scIsnufic thought OF America II
doubtless VIII prove a wonderfully inter
estlug study % know what proportion OK
them are b~ald-neaded. what proportion
wear more than number seven mats. what
proportion Of them have rugged health,
what proportion Is q a nervous temper
aulent and 50 on
The avenue by which men are 1elpIng
solve the social problems Of the time are
many. The government IIssif has taken
Il I'd through is hsailn bureaus and Uluer
agencies ana through child labor legisla-
ton. Mrs. Russell sage foundation -Jr
the study OF poverty Is perhaps the most
Important and far-reacning private work.
The tuberculosis researches, the gifts Of
Rockefeller and dozens OF other Institu-
tions give evidence ina men Of affairs IRE
actually beginning to realize that they are,
OF a truth. their brothers keeper. and hat
brother" Is as broad as neighbor' in LIE
commandment. Thou shalt love hey
neighbor as myself" All these activities
may be directly or indirectly traced to the
work Of sucn organ zaLons as the Academy
OF Political ana Social Science.
1t IS said BY those who have studied he
tendencies OF the times that civilization Is
coming 70 realize that the Individual who
prospers IS but a trustee Cor MIN who does
not. and that this idea has grown more in
a single score CT years than in AL the rest
OF the time together. II is finding its sx-
position IL q growing spirit OF charity that
= even now beginning 10 extend TO unborn
generations. Who ever thought. a score Of
years ago. that the Country would be 20
soon stirred BY the demand for the con-
servatiou Of the worlds resources for the
generations Of future centuries.
welfare" and 'uplft~ are two words
that have come into general use as a re-
sglt Of the aGtivides M,Ssuch institutions
as this academy. Although they may be
somewhat overw0rksd today. the added
service which they are compelled to render
only tells the tale OF thousands Of nen
4L4 women nv at 5AFAAH - LLG4 AAAAE
and means 10 reach oUI a helping hand IL
those who need IL. The churches through
out the country have come TO realize nat
their greatest mold on the people in the
future VII come through social service =u-
deGvor. One Of the leading churches Of
Washington mas a tree eye, ear and throat
inflruary. Here may come the poor 81
every creed and be treated without price
The pastor IS keeping a card index OF The
patients and is inquiring into the history
and the needs Of each individual He vans
to help them throw of the rags OF poverty
and 70 grow up into decent citizenship Il
IS but one OF the thousands OF Instance.
coming to light where the church is aiming
to make Itself a sJr0ng and practical factor
in the solution OF the social problems Ihlr
have yet 10 be answered in this country.
ny FREDERIC J. HAsKIu.
TomozxoW-FEAxS CP NEzoEX.