Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/496

 482 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

We have here an analogy with experiment and unification in biology, even to vivisection. For this very reason, since the experiment must be tried on large groups of sentient persons, both prudence and humanity require caution.

The fifth and the sixth steps can be taken only by men who are actually dealing with some field of administration, or who are in very close and confidential relations with the men of tech- nique. For it cannot too often be reiterated and emphasized that regulative principles are in life, are discovered by purposeful effort, and must remain unknown to those who are ignorant of actual experience.

The working hypothesis is constantly improved through the "dialectic" of experience, imagination, reasoning, and more experience.

We may consider the familiar " temperance problem " in order to illustrate the application of the method proposed. It will be understood that the facts are summarized, without the support of statistical material or statements of authorities. 1

We have in the temperance question a true social problem, a community interest. The evils of intemperance affect all citi- zens. Not one individual can escape the burden of taxation, the dangers to life, property, and morals, incident to the liquor traffic. All interests of all citizens are affected. Health is involved, directly and indirectly. Inebriates transmit and com- municate disease ; frighten the weak and timid ; drive their wives to misery. Economically the effects are seen in the destruction of food materials to manufacture alcohol, in the reduction of industrial efficiency of workmen, in the increase of loss by fire and fraud, in_ the cost for pauperism and crime. ^Esthetic life suffers in many and most obvious ways. Educational progress is checked, and teachers are ill paid, while brewers roll in wealth at cost of the laborers. The impulses of fellowship are per- verted and debased. The man of truth and honor becomes a liar and a beggar, his moral nature falling fatally with the organic changes in his brain caused by alcohol.

1 Many of the recent statistics are given in C. D. WRIGHT, Practical Sociology, with references to sources.