Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-28
WORLD NEEDS ECONOMIC AND
SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT, SAYS WELLS
Author, Working on Compendium of AL
Social Sciences. Holds British Election
Today Is Symbolic.

serve tradition. Now we are In pro-
crossing world where tradition must
give way. But the colleges have not
been able TO turn around and face the
future. The knowledge which they do
not give may come from the journalist
and regard myself as a sort OF jour
nalist. producing books which must
give way to better books as knowledge
advances. I don't know that want
to be remembered.
Existing social and economic insti-
tutions all are provisional. The world
must be made over. II Is a very dan
eerous world. but not necessarily one
calling for diSpair The future can be
planned in the light Of science. In the
past we have had q haphazard growth.
The social order always win be some
thing of a haphazard growth, but man
Is distinguished primarily from the
other animals by his ability TO plan for
the future instead of taking things as
they come"
DiSagreements Minimixed.
There is much less disagreement be-
tween economists and sociologists pur-
suing their researches the world over
by the objective methods Of science than
is generally supposed, Mr. Wells said
They are developing a body Of knowl-
edge of human relations which Is IN
accordance with the laws Of nature
and. by that sanction, is certainly right,
he insisted. Economics and sociology
he said, must be erected on a firm basis
of objective biology. Both he would
consider as parts of the biological
science as geology. or the relation OF an
organism. in this case the human being,
to its geological and biological environ
ment.
Mr.. Wells looks to great changes in
the strictly social. as well as IN the
economic order. He does not see IN inc
future, however, very great changes IN
such institutions as the family, except
for the absolute equality of woman In
the worlds affairs. However, the fam
ily be readjuSted, he said, monogamy
will remain because there are about as
many women as men in the world.
Sees Government Opportunities.
Present governments, he said, have
the opportunity of realizing the nee
essary changes. leading their peoples
out of the narrow nationallSm wnich
now afiicts the world and placing the
various departments of human affairs
in the hands of men capable Of direct
ing them by specialized knowledge with
no more emotional influence on their
behavior than have the surgeons at an
operating table Otherwise he sees a
great swing toward something like
Communism everywhere.
Mr. Wells emphasized that he does
not wish to pose as prophet of dis
aster He would preserve the good
things of life He does not think that
in the new age of science the individual
is due for humiliation in the flood of
specialization Man today, he believes,
is less specialized than in the middle
ages, when it was impossible for one to
escape from the rut in which he was
born. And he characterized his social
philosophy as the opposite of that
symbolized by the Hindu leader Gandht,
with his loin cloth, goat milk and con-
tempt of dentistry" which would make
every man SUFFICIENT unto himself,
Rather he would have men DO the jobs
for which they are best fitted.