Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-29
Most Successful Meeting Of
Science Association.
SESSION NEARS THE CLOSE
Thirty Affiliated Bodies Discuss Va
riety Of Topics.
ECONOMICS AND PSYCHOLOGY
Upward Tendency of Cost of Living
and Causes-Paper on Con-
gested Population.

Americas greatest scientific body, the
Association for the Advancement of
Science, is winding up. if not in blaze of
glory, st least to the great satisfaction
of the members, who say il is the most
successful meeting that the association
and its thirty affiliated societies has held
in the sixty-three years of it's existence.
There have been c.0e of the convention
delegates registed in Washington. and
a good many have attended but not regis
tered. The constituent societies of the
association have held very successful
meetings and the members say the quail
ity of the scientific papers presented has
been the best ever. The social side Of the
meeting has been quite as marked a sue
cess as the scientific, all of the visitors
having been entertained at one function
or another since arriving in Washington
There will be some section meetings to-
morrow and some final papers read. but
this marks practically the last day of the
big meeting. The appearance of President
Taft at the luncheon of the American
Economic Association yesterday was one
of the events not down on the official pro-
gram, but 1t caused something of a stir
because of the strong speech he delivered
on the need of readjusting the govern
ment service.
Gathering of Psychologists.
One of the most important events of
the many sessions yesterday was the
meeting of the Psychological Society at
the Government Hospital for the Insane.
This was attended by the most distin-
guished psychologists of the country. and
was notable in a medical way because It
was the first time that nerve specialists
and chnlnUiSfS had a.
gether and compared notes with view
to practical work In treating nervous dis
orders. 1t is thought the meeting will
mark an important era in the develop
ment of medicine. DR.. S. 1. Franz OF the
Government Hospital received the guests
There was quite a distinguished body. in
Guiding Adolph Myer of Johns Hopkins,
e. E. Southard of Harvard, John w.
Watson of Johns Hopkins and Morton
Prince Of Tufts Medical College.
afterward they accompanied DIR. Franz
on an inspection of the hospital The
meeting of the section was continued at
the George Washington Medical School
were delivered on the relation of psychol-
ogy to medicine and to the affairs Of
every day life.
Washington has a larger delegation of
scientists at the meeting this week than
has any other city or state in the country
according to the figures compiled by the
registration committee. Out Of a total of
nearly 3.e0o men Of science who are here
to attend the conventions of the various
scientific organizations this city furnishes
:;25. New York's delegates number Isl
and Massachusetts, has sent even LOO
as her quota. Porto Rico and Panama
each are represented by two delegates,
while Hawaii and far-off China send a
single delegate each.
Old as Human Nature.
The American Economic Association, be-
fore which President Taft appeared YES
terday, continued it's session at the Ra-
leigh Hotel today. One of the interest
ing papers was read by Edward L. Mo
Sweeney, chairman of the board of d.
rectors of the Hospital for Consumptves
at Boston, Mass. He spoke on the pres
ent upward tendency Of prices.
In summing up, Mr.. McSweeney said:
The whole question of an advance in
the cost Of living goes deeper, however
than science or political economy, be-
cause ii is as Old as human nature. The
remedy for present conditions is largely
to be found In a revival of the old moral
code and the application Of sound ethical
principles, for the people at large. The
restless and critical age Of riches in
which We live has disclosed in its char
acter the bad qualities formerly conceal led
by its poverty.
AN international agreement as to the
cost Of living will not bring about the
millennium, but it will be certain to edu-
cate the world in regard to the causes op-
Grating to produce the results from which
it is suffering. 1t will act as barrier to
the forces trying to break GOWN existing
civilization. which. with all it's faults is
short. an international congress on the
cost of living may bring satisfactory re-
suits not within the powers of the ma
tiens, acting separately, to accomplish
Congestion of Population.
Another paper before the economists
was that Of Prof B. H. Hibbard Of the
Iowa State College on the congestion of
population.
There are more rural people living
in those districts where land is used
primarily as the foundation for home
and not as an investment. he said.
Where il is capitalized at the highest
possible figure and put upon the mar
ket. either for sale or for rent ii falls
into the hands of men who exploit it
commercially. and in doing So handle
as many acres as their means and skill
will permit. pushing the number of
acres as high as possible for each
rural laborer belonging to the family.
either as member OF 1t or as hired
help This unconsciously reduces the
number Of rural people living on
given number Of acres. 1t is d part OF
the same set of forces which leaves
the poor land in the hands of owners
and puts high priced land i'm the hands
of tenants.
ION the poor land competition Is not
So strong. The land may easily be
worth more than it is selling for. The
farmer of mediocre ability can make
living. Moreover. the purchase price
is not so great. and one of modest
means is able early in life TO make the
nayments necessary in effectlng a
pnrchase. The size of the farm re-
mains smaller all of the circum-
stances working toward a relatively
large rural population.
Price of Gas and Pure Food