The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-04-04
FOR A BETTER HUMAN SPECIES.
Vermont's Problem Is to Strengthen It.
self to Counterfeit the Weaklings.

Before a large gathering of men in
the Vincitia club last evening, James
Franklin Messenger of Burlington, pro-
lessor of education and director OF the
summer school at the University OF YER
mont, gave an interesting and informal
talk ON "The Conservation of Our So
cial Forces" The occasion was the last
of a series of smokers given by the club
during the winter months, and to the
speakers discussion of that large and
timely subject the audience gave its
closest attention. Professor Messenger
was introduced by President NJ. S.
Rounds and at the conclusion of his re-
marks he was accorded rising vote of
thanks. One of the pleasurable features
of the evening came at the end of the
talk, when new maple sugar on snow,
doughnuts, coffee and other/fixin's were
served in the card room.
In its general aspects, Professor Mes
senger's address on conservation as a
definite part of the social program dealt
with the problem in broad manner
In particular, however, he discussed its
manifold phases in connection with their
reference to conditions here in Vermont
His plan was for business like method
of graWling with social problems as
they are manifesting themselves to the
present generation. Without belittling
the necessity for conservation of mate
rial resources such as forests, coal and
water, he voiced his opinion that ex-
traVagance in greater degree exists
in efforts for social service. Briefly he
traced from its beginnings the human
side of society that seeks to barbor and
protect its weaklings. The instinct that
one sees developing in a child'as it cares
for weak sister or younger brother is
the instinct that guides the race as a
whole in endeayoring to preserve its
own unfortunates.
There is a necessity of a dependent
class, according to the speaker The
presence Of the helpless has been a great
humanizing factor in social evolution.
To-day we are facing a constantly grow
ing proportion of detectives To stop
its growth is large problem. Efforts
are being made along three lines to
cope with this proportion, ratio that
has doubled in the last decade. The re-
duce the number of detectives. stcrliza-
tion and segregation are resorted to for
the purpose of preventing reproduction
among unfortunates of certain kind.
These methods have their drawbacks and
objectionable features. Again, there is
the proposition that Incorporates plan
to increase the number OF the strong
We know it as the science of eugenics.
1t, too, has its iInpracticable phases, A
third plan is the educating of the en-
tire group for the expressed purpose
of improving the species. To this plan
il commended the thoughtful considera-
tion of every citizen. Something can be
done in the way of increasing the gem
eral efficiency OF community. Vermont
can continue to produce as many men
as she has produced in the past, more
perhaps if it We're to work for the great
er good. But her race Of men and won
EN- viii not be quite as able unless we
apply an economies and organized pfan
to reduce the defective proportion of
the population. IndividuaIism. to a GER
tain degree, must be banished and in
it's stead there must exist strong and
resolute race which will apply to the
social problems the same business sense
and the same concentration of effort
that it brings to bear on its more con-
crete problems.