The Washington times., 1915-11-21
Civic Federation To
Meet Here in January
Many Vital Questions Such as Legal and Moral Dr.
ties of Naturalized Citizens and Resident Aliens
Will Be Taken Up. .,.

The annual meeting of tho National
Civic Federation will be held here
January II, IS. and H., the annual
lard on January IS.
The general topics for discussion
will be:
/. The legal and moral obligations
resting upon foreign born citizens of
the United States-those who have
become naturalized citizens. and
those who have taken steps to be-
come citizens. as well as those en-
gagged in labor or business here. but
not intending to take out citizens $
papers.
2. The present and prospective ef-
the United States, as It relates "a to
the wage-earner. CD to industry. and
- to the body polite: and what. II
any, new Legislation IL required to
deal with this problem.
Among the reports which Will be
made by special committees will be
one giving an analysis OF over 100
profit sharing plans now in operation
In thfs>country, as we'll as a descrip-
tion of many abandoned ones and the
different methods employed IN in
dustrial enterprises-manuf cturinE
plants. mercantile houses, public
service corporations. and financial in
stitutlons.
A plan will be presented for the or
ganization OF a commission to make n
| study of the question How far shall
Government In this country enter into
private industry? II will provide for
review OF conditions In Europe
where the government Is more and
| more taking over private industry. Has
this resulted In such benefit that II
VIII become the permanent policy. or
Is 1t tolerated as a military necessity
Report On Changes.
The industrial economics department
will make preliminary report on its
survey OF the social and Industrial
changes that have taken place during
the last generation. The object OF this
survey Ia to summarize the changes In
our national life. and TO gather to-
gether the essential material from
which to Judge where there has been
an advance In well-being, where has
been a loss. and how far. In the aggre'
gate. gains and losses balance or out
| weigh one another.
In referring to this. In an announce.
ment made today. Ralph NJ. Easlcy
chairman Of the executive council Of the
federation, said
| 1T Is felt that the time Is peculiarly
ripe for such survey. The last thirt,
years have witnessed not only re
markable changes In our social anC
economic life, but also marked
change in the public attitude TOWARD
our national affairs The fulsom'
panegyric OF the old-time Fourth o
July orator has given place to
ceaseless criticism OF existing institu
tions, whether they be political or so
cial or economic. The prophets .
change and the propaganiists Of re
| form OF all sorts have rudely shaker
that faith In our institutions and II
ourselves which a former generation
blindly inherited from its forefa athers
In many minds there Is unrest. n feel
ing that conditions are SO bad tha
| sympathy is awakened for the mos
radical proposals. On the other hand
there ar ethose who see in such unres
the hopeful sign OF advance whicl
can only proceed from discomfort. an
they point to the tremendous progres
which has been made. industrially an,
socially, In the last thirty years as
complete answer to those who argu
that. because perfection has not We
been attained. our present institu
tions are a allure and should be over
turned"
The following outlines give tn
scope and character OF the undertak
ing:
Labor Conditions.
"lIow do wages. hours of labor an
the physical conditions OF the factor
and the home compare with those O
thirty years ago? Have the work o
the American Federation of Labor. tn
Railway Brotherhoods, and the socia
reform ORGANIZATIONS. and the lcgisla
ton secured by them regulating Condi
tions in factories. mercantile establish
ments, mines. bakeries tenement house
and sweat shops. really benefited tn