The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-29
SCORNS
PARASITIC RICH
Voluntary Illness Should Be
Scientifically Studied,
He Thinks
ONE CAUSE OF
NATIONAL DECAY
Leisure Class" An Eloquent
Argument for Socialism,
Says Edueatorin Elo-
quent Address


that the parasitic rich" In America
must be controlled before the ad-
vances of socialism, and anarchy can
be checked, Prof. Henry w. Farnam.
of Yale. president OF the American
Economic Society today announced
himself in favor o< a scientific inves-
legation into that remarkable class
that has instituted monkey dinners In
Newport, and all night snake dances
In New York.
In an address before the American
Association for the advancement of
science, now in session here. Prof
Farnam said:
1T In a matter OF common obser-
walton that wealthy families III our
country often contain number OF
parasitic members. that is. members
who derive = large income from so
ctety without rendering any apprecia-
bic economic or public service in re-
turn. These general and obvious facts
need. however. to be examined his
torically and statistically, in order TO
enable US to judge correctly OF tho
reaction OF prosperity OH the human
mind, and of the conditions which
determine It,
ing men, but not of club men: We col
leet the statistics of involuntary un-
employment, but not of voluntary
idleness. our study OF social condi-
tons on the east side has NOT been
extended to the west side.
National Decadence.
And yet how can we underssand
the causes Of national decadence, that
great and perennial question OF his
tory is well AZ OF practical politics,
uniess We untiinchingly examine its
phenaInena during the growing period
These parasitic members OF the
so-calied Leisure class should be pc
ct1iariy useful specimens for econo-
mic study In our country because
they are not under the social pres
sure OF the feudM system, inherited In
the old countries OF Europe from the
time when wealth meant land own
ership, and land ownership OF ntces-
sity involved public duties
Many OF this class walk our streets,
eloquent but unconscious arguments
Tor socialism, terrible examples for
the ,noralist, living texts for sermons.
rich material for the problem novel
list. but still comparatively neglected
by the economist, the socioiogist and
the statistician
Intensive studies OF heredity in
families. such as those made by Sir
Francis Gallon. In England. and DIR,
Frederick A. Woods. and DR.. c. b.
davenport. In our country. are of great
value, but need to he supplemented by
study OF the economic reaction
Question Of Hsrsdity.
In the case of animal life. the in
herfted characteristics are aIl-inpor-
tant, and the skillful breeder can rea-
sonaoiy expect to find the qualities
or the parent in those of the off
spring. But IL cows had the power
10 deliberately choose a life of CELL
bacy, we should find many pedigree,i
Guernsey. with ancestors in the ad
Nanced register, chewing their cuds
IN iueness on the hillside and yield
ing no milk whatsoever. just as we
often md sons OF distinguished par
ents displaying real ability. when p,t
10 some academic test. and vet doing
nothing To make their lives either
useful or distinguished for lack OF
proper incentive.
raraSatism Is, however but A mart
or the general subject of economic
pathology. which has been altogether
700 much neglected by economists IN
the past and which can certainly
never be studied by the dsducfiya
method Or, If We pass beyond the
stfictly economic questions To those
broader questions OF social noiiries
what vast materials have We in our
country bearing upon the mixture al
races What a srleftiid opportunity
10 test the theories OF the philosophi-
cal anarchist, VINO holds that the MS
o, society are due to the law and
VINO may study in the history OF Ans
ka The effect OF allowing a common
~eaith To- grow up almost without
law "'
mheh asked tonight to designate the
particular parasites whom no haa ~,
mind when he made the address ava
Whether or not he meant To point
the finger OF scorn at certain fsn,,.
i,es in New York. the professor said.
aou must draw your own deductions
from my remarks"