Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-10

At the meeting OF the American So
ciety Of Political and Social Science IN
Philadelphia this week the social science
section will consider reports upon the
great advance made during the past year
in the practical application of that sub
| ject in it's various phases. Formerly
social science as taught in colleges eno
universities was looked upon as an i
most occult mystery. incapable or pfac-
teal demonstration or understanding by
| the general public. 1t was supposed
to be vague and indefinite in its appfca-
| tons and benefits. Now it is recognized
as a practical living science, the real
foundation of every line Of hunt prog
ress. Each year increases the number OF
persons interested in its study ana
demonstration.
| There are three sources Of Information
for the student of social science: First,
personal observation by himself and 9TH
ers; second, systematic study of socioi-
ogy, politics and history; third. records
of official and individual Investigations
conducted by government or private
authority.
| Personal observation involves close
contact with people to be helped. For
| this reason the
| Inv0lveS Contact social center or
| =. settlement in a
With the People. large citv was as
helpful to the student as to the COM
munity. 1t is now being demonstrated
that the congested districts are not the
nnlx- Eol1 al
Numbers of the social science class OF
Harvard University last summer scattered
through the districts OF the northwest,
turning their attention to social needs
as they found them. Boys brigades and
boy scout organizations were found to
appeal to the country boy as much as
to the boy in the city. while by broaden
ing the usefulness of the grange and
similar organizations, many new avenues
OF social progress were opened to the
farmers, who had hitherto had their
thoughts nodded chiefly by the loafer' 8
congress at the village grocery store.
| President Roosevelt first recognized the
| practical value Of increased knowledge In
social science by the general public
Under his direction each department OF
| formation helpful to social workers or
| laymen. He considered the accumulation
/ of knowledge which would lead to the
| Improvement Of the living and social con-
ditions Of the American people q distinct
| function of the national government.
! The Department of Commerce and Labor
| was established solely for the purpose OF
collecting material In reference to social
| science. Statistics as to wages, living
! conditions, including housing, sanitation
and kindred topics, chiefly. however. con-
| nected with manufacturing labors, all
| came under this department. The Depart
| ment of Agriculture supplemented this
by fuller details as to the homes, sur
| roundings and needs of people engaged
in farming pursuits. The advantages and
| disadvantages of small farms where
| large machinery cannot be used, and the
| social relations with the small farmer to
| his helpers, are cOntrasted with the diff
culties of the large farmer whose advan-
tage of machinery is offset by the diff
culties in securing laborers for the busy
| season.
| J. ::
| The Department of State with its his
torical records, the Treasury Department
! with its financial
Department Records records, the land
| A. rrc1 Office with its
&AAS oocAA' accounts of de-
velopment and resources Of newly settled
lands, have all contributed to the ac-
emulation Of social science knowledge
even before the last census, which was
the most complete, thorough and salts
factory ever taken in the world. The
result of last years census has given to
the social scientists a wealth Of material
collected by the government which could
not have been secured in any other way.
Its best utilization will be more or less
directly the object of every social science
worker during the next year.
The church has adOnted social science