Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/17

 THE SOCIAL r.-U.CE OF THE SAL

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saloons were visited, an attempt was made tu cape t* bane of social investigation the psychologist's fallacy. > far

as possible, conditions were exchanged. Purse and scrip were left behind. The saloon became an integral feature of life. It

FIG. 2.

was loafing place, news center, and basis of food supply in its free lunch counter ; a complete orientation was made into its life. Trammeled neither by an abstinence pledge nor by a predispo- sition for it> wares, it is believed that the freedom nee unbiased judgment was obtained.

It was assumed in beginning the investigation that an insti- tution which society has so generally created for itself must meet a definite social demand; and that the demand was not synony- mous with a desire on the part of socirtv t<> commit suicide by means of alcoholic poison was taken for granted. The |uestion