Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 11.djvu/577

 THE AMERICAN SOCIOLOGICAL SOCIETY 561

should be taken to keep it from encroaching on the ground pre-empted by the American Historical Association, the American Political Science Association, the American Economic Association, or the American Anthro- pological Society.

In my estimation it should be a separate and independent organization, To make it a part of one of the associations named would give it a subordinate position, and, what is worse, would seem to indicate that sociology is a branch of either history, political science, economics, or anthropology. It might be possible that it should form a division of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. As a section of this association, it would be placed close to biology and psychology, which might be of some advantage. However, it appears to me that the A. A. A. S. is already far too large and cumbersome for the best quality of work, and that more vital work would be done in a separate organization.

Nearly all of the letters received in reply to the circular, of which only a few are quoted above, came from persons who would be unable to attend the conference. The circular was so worded as to suggest a reply by letter only as a substitute for personal participation in the conference.

At the conference it was moved, after hearing the report of Professor Veditz, that a sociological association be formed, and that it be formed at once. This motion prevailed. Professor Giddings, of Columbia University, pointed out that probably in no country in the world is there so much interest in the problems of sociology, whether theoretical or practical, as in the United States. Many, if not most, of our colleges and universities offer courses in sociology. The American literature of the subject is noteworthy both with regard to quantity and quality, and has re- ceived frequent and, ready recognition abroad. Before many of those present at the meeting had even entered college, Professor Sumner, of Yale, was giving courses in sociology, using Herbert Spencer's Sociology as a textbook. Yet, while France and Eng- land both have successful sociological associations which publish valuable papers on sociological subjects, we have as yet, strange to say, no distinctively scientific national organization of sociolo- gists.

In discussing the scope of the new organization or group, Mr. Clinton Rogers Woodruff, of Philadelphia, raised the ques- tion whether those interested in practical reform work would be