Evening journal., 1910-01-03
Monday. January 3. 1910
DISCUSSION on SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

eATOTHING could illustrate the increase of
In interest in social and industrial problems
better than the series of conferences of ten learn
cd societies held in New York City during the
last few days. The societies have been cele-
brating the twenty-hfth anniversary of the
American Historical and the American Econo-
D{nic Associations. With them have been meeting
tAe Political Science Association, the Sociolog-
cal Society, the Association for Labor Legisla-
ton, the Statistical Association and some others
all of which are concerned with the problems
of social life. In a short time the American
Academy of Political and Social Science will
meet in Philadelphia and this is probably the
most important body of all. The Academy was
started some R,Es ago. for the study of social
problems. II Amt professors are its officers
and learned students OF these problems,
have address meetings Of the Academy and
contributed pages of its publications. 1t
has a mem of four thousand throughout
the county IF whom are in Delaware
S9cnator divine MIR. Josiah Marvel and Others
The Academy has increased in membership and
prospered. 1t has led the advance thought on So
cial and industrial problems, considered them
from many points of view.
The societies that meet in New York are also
composed of learned men and those who sympa-
thize with them. In fact, these organizations
represent the best American thought. Not so
many years ago we had few OF such societies
and those we had were but feebly supported
America was content to draw her opinion on
these topics from foreign writers or from poht-
ical stump-speakers. But now we have our own
scientific thinkers who are investigating, publish
ing and writing and contributing their part to the
Thought OF the world, making name for Ameri-
can writers in all the learned centers OF the
world
Interest in these matters is not confined TO
the learned men by any means. One of the most
conspicuous shelves of books in our own library
lis that which contains the latest writings on So
cial and industrial problems. 1t stands near the
main desk and is placed there evidently because
people arc interested in these books. Some peo-
lple read them-do not devote their entire time
TO the well-worn volumes of vapd fiction and
romance.
On the library shelves are the works of Amer
ican Socialistc writer's Spargo, Hunter "Paror
Socialists" as they have been called, and the
new book by Hillquit. who is not a Parlor Social
list And on the same shelf arc works combat
ling the Sociastic doctrine. Socialism whether
I'VE believe in it or not, has been the means of
creating a wide spread interest in the study OF
social problems. 1t points out the evils and tells
of the good things that Socialism stands for but
ignores the bad The Socialistc remedy, which
lis the State owning everything, we fear would
lead to industrial despotism, industrial mltar-
ism.
Socialism, trusts labor and capital and all these
matters are discussed by the various societies
that we have mentioned above and they embrace
the live questions which must be met by Legisa-
tors.
The chief feature of all the discussions as VIC
notice them, is that the old idea of strict indi-
vidualism-non-interfere by the government
lis fading away.