The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-05-14
Liberal Viewpoint
by DR.. HARRY ELMER BARNES =

| ONCE We have assured ourselves of the ability
" to eat and cover our backs, we have to face
the broader problem Of mastering social life as
whole The following group of books con-
tribute notably in one way or another to the
Qualification of the major social issues of today.
Professor Henry Pratt Farchild is best
known as one of the leading authorities on i'm
migration and is an unusually penetrating and
courageous writer on the crisis Of modern cap
italisn He now has written a comprehensive
manual on the more expansive topic of social
life as whole General Sociology" By Henry
Pratt Fairchild. John Wiley, Inc. $3.50.
The book is very lucidly written and departs
widely from the conventional subject matter of
general textbooks in the field of sociology AS
might be expected from the authors prepara-
ton and interests it is particularly strong in
the sections dealing with biological and eco
nomic problems.
THE question of whether heredity or environ
Il ment is most influential in determining the
character of human personality has been Bit
| terly and extensively debated for more tnan
century. Miss Schwesinger has written one
of the most complete works on this controversial
subject.
1t examines the issue carefully from every
point of view and reviews thoroughly the previ-
Gus literature in the field C'Heredity and En-
vronment: Studies in the Genesis of Psyche
logical characteristics" BY Gladys c. Schwes-
niger Edited by Frederick Osborn. Mac
milan. SO.
The author comes to the sensible conclusion
that the facts do not support the extreme view
point of either envronmenalists or hereditar-
ians, and that the question can be settled for
any given individual only through very close
study of the particular case.
One of the most notorious examples OF cul-
tural lag in our modern civilization is to be
found in the content and administration OF
our criminal law. Much of it is as far removed
from modern scientific knowledge in the field
of crimnology as is astrology or witchcratt
PROFESSOR WAITE has given us our first
Il dependable and readable introduction to the
operation of the American criminal law, cover
ing all problems from the nature of the Grim
nal code to the reaction of the public to notable
criminal cases ("Criminal Law in Action" BY
John Barker Waite. Sears Publishing Co. So.
The fact that he sets forth his material in calm
and dispaSSionate fashion makes his survey all
the more challenging to the conventional Grim
nal law of our country
The information and point of view of those
in charge Of penal institutions in our country
have been notably improved in the last genera
ton. This fact is amply demonstrated by the
DrOCeeOl0PS OF AMERICAN FIlSOu faOoOCIdGlOAl,
which held a congress at Atlantic City last
October.
The collection of papers there delivered and
just published is, for the most part, an il
Illuminating survey of the more scientific and
civilized attitude toward criminals proceedings
of the Sixty-Third Annual Congress of the
American Prison Association" Central Office,
1876 East Fifteenth Street, New York. so. But
there are still lamentabe examples of archaic
vindctiveness, for example, Mr.. Justin Mlllers
paper on the place of probation in our correc-
tional system.
Among the most notable phases of progress
in social science and education are the advances
that have been made in the presentation OF
sexual problems in candid and accurate fashion
The book by DR.. Thesng is unsurpassed as
lucid and scientific introduction to the biology
psychology and sociology of sex and the love
emotions C'Genealogy of Sex" By Curt Thesing
NJ D. Emerson Books Inc. So. AS an intro
ductory descriptive manual it can be warmly
| recommended.