Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/279

 REVIEWS 265

is simply the prognosis, diagnosis, prophylactics, and therapeutics of existing social evils. Aside from the alleged underlying biological principle and the somewhat novel terminology, the treatment of this side of the subject is not notably original, and in fact one is some- what surprised to find that with such a profoundly scientific substratum the social questions discussed are, after all, both in their normal and their pathological aspects, little else than those that confront us in other economic, sociological, and even popular literature everywhere. The social organism theory is merely used as a thread upon which to string every conceivable question in the social world, and one of the chief recommendations of this theory is its use in furnishing the vehicle in which are thus borne and distributed to the world the fer- tile ideas and the ripened wisdom of such well-stored minds. Let us thank the "social organism" for this service to the world.

LESTER F. WARD.

The Liquor Problem in its Legislative Aspects. By F. H. WINES and JOHN KOREN. Boston and New York : Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1897

AN investigation has been carefully carried on under the direction of President Eliot, President Low, and Mr. J. C. Carter, subcommittee of fifty to collect data in relation to the liquor traffic. The purpose of the committee is to prepare a basis of fact for social judgments and to do this in a thoroughly impartial spirit. The volume here noticed forms one part of a series of studies. Its main topics are Prohibition in Maine and in Iowa, The South Carolina Dispensary System, The Restrictive System in Massachusetts, The Liquor Laws of Pennsylvania, The Ohio Liquor Tax, Liquor Laws in Indiana, and The Missouri Local Option Law. The main conclusions which are suggested by the data are summarized by the committee.

The results of the statistical researches are mainly negative ; even if the student had command of government agencies for collecting the materials they could not be conclusive because the local conditions are so various and shifting.

The facts in regard to legislation are accurately and fully given, and the testimonies of intelligent witnesses throw light on the effects of the laws. At every step the inquiry is hindered by prejudices, par- tisanship, and hostile economic interests.