Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 11.djvu/579

 THE AMERICAN SOCIOLOGICAL SOCIETY 563

be a program which would satisfy neither the sociologists nor the economists. Not only has the sociologist problems of his own, which seem to him to merit as elaborate discussion as the problems which interest the economist, but those problems are as numerous and as varied in character as the problems to which the Economic Association now devotes its time at each annual meeting. There ought, to be sure, to be one or more "joint meetings," in which problems are discussed which are germane to both economics and sociology; and these meetings would emphasize the close relationship which subsists between economics and sociology, without implying that economics is sociology or that sociology is economics.

The hope was expressed by some of those who spoke that there would ultimately be formed a federation of the societies engaged in the study of the social sciences particularly the Economic Association, the Political Science Association, and the new sociological association to avoid the wastes and difficul- ties and disadvantages of a multiplication of societies while retaining the advantages of having distinct interests. Such a federation might have but one organ, one publishing committee, one president (with a vice-president for each of the three sub- divisions), and a single membership fee for all three branches.

At all events, in the opinion of those who spoke upon this point, the meetings of the sociological association should in- variably occur at the same time and place as those of the Economic Association.

Professor Lindsay remarked that the newly created Political Science Association had carefully gone into the question whether the political scientists should form a new association, or join some one already in existence, and be content with sharing in the program. He asked whether anyone present was able to furnish information on the results of this investigation. To this question Dr. Max West, of the federal Bureau of Corporations, who participated in the formation of the Political Science Association, replied that the political scientists had reached the conclusion that the problems which interested them were so dis- tinct, so numerous, and so important as to require practically a