Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-30
LEARNED MEN HEAR
PRAISE OF REVOLT
Speaker Says Millions of
Mexicans Have Been Freed
From Slavery.

Several popular beliefs regarding
political conditions in the Western
Hemisphere fell today before the at
tacIs Of speakers at the final sessions
of the IL societies affiliated with the
American Council of Learned Societies.
Among the statements with which
students of history and political science
set ahlaze cherished opinions were the
following:
The Mexican Revolution. by remoV-
ing the DOMINO ion of foreign invest
org in Mexico and freeing from slavery
half the population of the country and
twice as many people as were liberated
by the Civil War in this country. was
great contribution to the future
democracy OF that nation and TO the
world.
Raitic.Soviet Treaties.
The Baltic states were forced into
treaties with Soviet Russia TO protect
themselves from suhservience TO
French and British aims.
The Little Entente Of Central Euro
2ean powers. and not the great powers,
is responsible for the new order of
peace in central Europe.
The Mexican revolution has given
for the first time in 400 years free
dom OF movement to the mass OF
workers in Mexico. Frank Tannen-
baum of the Institute of Economics
declared at luncheon meeting OF
the American Political Science AS
sociation. The revolution is still
going on. he said.
Until 1910, and in some cases un-
til 1917" he declared. "one-haf OF
Loo - NJ "a g
tied TO the soil by a system of debts
which was in fact. If not in law.
equivalent to slavery. The system
has now disappeared. both in law
and In fact. There is no place in
Mexico today where the people are
kept on the land against their will,
and If one recalls that the number
OF people freed from serfdom was
approximately seven million and that
our Civil War freed only about three
and one-half million, and that our
negro population was but q very
small fraction of the total population
at the time. IL becomes obvious that
the change that has taken place
in the social structure is of very
profound character.
Small Communities Freed.
Another good result of the revolu.
ton. he said. is that small rural COM
munities have been freed from the
dominance of large haciendas. A third
factor he pointed out to be racial
revival. resulting from freeing the
Indian from a condition in which he
was looked upon as a pariah.
Ruling groups Of the country
formerly were the large land owners
and foreign investors, using the army
and politicians as instruments OF con-
troll, he said. Now the agricultural
and industrial worker has the dominat-
ing position. The standard Of living
has been raised, he concluded, and the
government is now active in seeking
10 benefit the mass Of the people.
The history of the Baltic pact was
given to members of the American
Historical Association by f. w.
Nowak of Boston University, who out
lined the position of the countries
after the withdrawal of the Russian
forces during the war, and from then
to the close of the conflict.
In 1918, he said. Finland, Esthonia,
Latvia and Lithuania received de
facto recognition from Great Britain
and France at the price Of subservi.
ance to the policies Of the allied
u.
the Baltic territories as base Of
opera tons for an anti-Bolsheyik ad-
vance into Russia. Realizing that
there was no prospect for independ-
ence. the Baltic states signed separate
treaties with Soviet Russia"
Solidarity of Interest.
The fear of Russian aggression and
the need for economic cooperation
have created a solidarity OF interest
between Poland, Finland, Esthonia,
I4atvia and Lithuania that is none
the less real though ii has not yet
taken the form Of a general Balkan
pact" he declared.
CONSTRUCTED originally against Hun
gary. the little entente has developed
into an effective instrument for the
creation Of q new order in Central
Europe" Robert j. Kerner OF the
University Of Missouri said. when
the Geneva protocol failed the little
entente offered TO take part in Cen
trail European Locarno." He declared
that Foreign Minister Renes Of czecho-
sloyakia almost alone was instru-
mental in securing accord between
Great Britain and France at Geneva.
Taylor Heads Economists.
Frederick II. Taylor, economist Of
the University OF Michigan, was
elected president Of the American
Economic Association this morning.
President Franklin L. NcVey OF the
University OF Kentucky was chosen
first vice president. and Miss Jesgica
u. Peixotto Of California, second vice
president. r. y. Deibier was re-
elected secretary treasurer
FA1p spfx .
Michigan and William Kiekhofer Of
the University Of Wisconsin were
named members Of the executive
bpard. and George r.. Barrett OF
Johns Hopkins University. and l.. &.
Marshall If the University Of Chi
cago, were elected members Of the
Social Science Research Council.
The American Sociological Society
elected John n. Gillette Gf the Uni.
vergity Of North Dakota president.
and Frank H. Hanklns " Smith Col
iege and l.. l.. Bernard " Tulane
4 University vice presidents. Prot
Gillette viii succeed w. T. Thomas of
tbs New School for Social Research
The following members Of the e1ecu.
tive committee we're chosen Ii. A.
Miller 0f ohio State University. Ellis.
" orth FaT1s VI the UniYel sjty of Chi.
eago. r. IL. Sutherland N the Unit
ssrslty ~ Minnesota. s. 4. Queen of
the University N Kansas, Mrs. W. r..
Drummer N Ghbsa 30 and 4. -. Eliot
N Northwestern University.
fIewfsoIin IL Reelected.
EH4n A, Le~lEoI4n NJ New York was
resisclec president Ut the American
AssoclstiGn for IIaboF Legislation,
John H. Andrews Vac reelected sec,
81
GsiDhia treasurer. The following vice
presidents were chosen. Henry H.
isaeEer N Columbia University, LII
liam Wsld III New York, Felix If. War
burg ~ New Yofk, Prot. Irving Fisher
az Yals University, Jane Adams Of