The farmer and mechanic., 1912-05-14
Or. Crafts Shows How 1t Has
Saved ImperiIed Sabbath---
Lynching One of the Social
Problems Which the Country
Is SoIving--- Things Which
Reform Bureau Is Bringing
About

-
Washington. D. c. Superintendent or
the International Reform Bureau, at
southern Sociological Congress, Nash
vile, May 10, 1921
In the United States Congress, the
South is now leading in moral re-
forms, not alone in temperance ies1s-
lation, with Captain HobsOn as their
leader. but also in the ant-gamb bling
crusade, which Congressman Sims ana
Senator Lea are leading. while Sen
ator Johnston, Of Alabama. is the
leader in securing a Sunday rest law
for the National Capital
The reasons for this moral leader
ship are that the South, aS compared
with the East and the West is the
most American, the most religious.
the most Sabbath observing, and has
the largest percentage OF saloonless
territory.
AS to the ruraiity OF the South, I
do not forget that 1t is fast decreasing
before the world divide social passion
for city life. but the South will be
predominantly rural long enough to
hold the vicious elements in the cities
ir check by State authority If only 1t
Will act swiftly and refuse to be fool
ed by the Specious appeals for home
rule that come from that triumvirate
which rules so many cities, Appetite,
Greed and Lust. It is one Of the most
absurd conceptions that ever fooled
q sane being, that those citizens OF a
State who are most environed by evil
elements are least entitled to the pro-
lection Of State law. And 1t would
be comedy if 1t were not tragedy to
hear men processing to hold the creed
OF States rights" while arguing that
the most fundamental OF all States
rights, the right OF the majority OF
the State to rule, can be set aside by
city officials wherever the criminal
and vicious element have colonized in
unusual numbers. That is just where
the State law is most needed. a mayor
may declare himself monarch Of all
he surveys, even to Suspending the
laws of the State.
Southern Difficulties in Social Move
mentS.
Having mentioned the potential ad-
vantages the South has in undertak-
ing social service, it's peculiar diSad-
vantages should also be stated with
scientific and historic franlness.
First, there is the disadvantage Of
having two separate races, accustom-
ed to independent action in religion,
education and other branches Of
activity. We need not linger on ad-
mitted mistakes of whites Of North
and South alike in dealing with the
negro. The wrong Of slavery was fol-
lowed by the wrong Of an uninteli-
corrected by the impartial diSfran-
chisement Of all ignorance, white OF
black and probably would have beer
but for the second diSa dvantaSe I an
now to mention. namely that South
ern churches have generally failed Il
recognize, what this Southern Sociolo
gCal Congress insures they will in
creaSingly see hereafter. that th
church is called to apply the prin
ciples of righteousness not alone t,
individuals but to the whole socia
life-to business and politics an
pleasures; TO the city, the State an
the Nation.
third disadvantage, partly du
to the second. is that the South ha
very few social workers Of it's owr
and has hitherto found it necessary t
import most Of then-for example
its Y. Nj. c. A. secretaries and ant
saloon superintendent. These in
ported workers, who are much az
Preciated, would themselves be th
first to admit that it would be a man
fest advantage to develop Souther
workers.
There Is a fourth hindrance to 81
cial betterment. not peculiar to tt
South though it is the South WhiC
has the best chance to lead In it's CO
rection; namely, that the leading me
Of the churches and chambers
commerce generally refuse to acce
OfYlce in the cities, with the cons
Quence, for which they are as much
fault as anybody else, that city Of
cials, who are in closest touch wi
social problems, know little and ca
less for their solution. In four month
recent study Of Southern cities l ha
found very few where the State la
intended to promote moral and
cial better1nent are not openly nul
fed.
Since good city government must
one Of the chief factors in any 81
cessful scheme of social betterme
there is nothing more suitable for [
Southern Sociological Congress tn
10 send out it's patriotic appeal
Christian business men and cole
professors Of the first rank to ta