Book Review: Social Problems by Ezra Thayer Towne (1929)

• Title: Social Problems: A Study of Present-Day Social Conditions
• Author: Ezra Thayer Towne
• Published: New York: The MacMillan Company, 1929. 406-pages.

About the Author[1] [2]

Ezra Thayer Towne, an American economist, was born on April 1, 1873 in Waupun, Wisconsin and died February 27, 1952 in Grand Forks County, North Dakota.  He was the son of William Hammond and Marion (Kingsbury) Towne.  His education and career is as follows: an advanced course at the State Normal School in Oshkosh, Wisconsin (1894); Assistant Principal at De Pere High School in Wisconsin (1894-95); B.L. University of Wisconsin (1897); Graduate work at the University of Wisconsin (1897-99); Studied at the New York School of Philanthropy (1898); Superintendent of Schools in Sharon, Wisconsin (1899-1901); Studied and traveled in Europe (1901-03); earned his Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Halle, Germany (1903); acting professor and professor of economics and political science at Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota (1903-17); Head of the department of economics and political science, and director of course in commerce at the University of North Dakota (1917-24) and later Dean of School of Commerce (1924-48); Doctor of Humanities, University of North Dakota (1948).

He was the author of several works, including: The Organic Theory of Society (1903), Social Problems (1916, 1924, 1932), and editor of the Quarterly Journal at the University of North Dakota during the years 1923-1928 and 1932-1933.

He was a member of several organizations, including: American Economics Association, American Association of University Professors, Phi Beta Kappa, Beta Gamma Sigma, Alpha Pi Zeta (National President 1931), Theta Chi, Beta Alpha Psi, Delta Sigma Pi, Fraternal Order of Freemasons (Knights Templar, Shriner), University Club, Fortnightly Club, Franklin Club, and the Lions Club.

It appears that Towne was a very active man in society.  His education is more than adequate for the task at hand.  I could not find any additional information on who he was other than the above.  After reading his book, I can also say that he was a man who honestly cared about his fellow man and felt the responsibility of doing his best to pass down a better world than what he found it.

My Perspective

“The aim of this work is not to make original contributions to the subjects discussed, but rather to collect the available material on these subjects and arrange it in such form that it may be used advantageously as a basis for study in the classroom.”[3]  The book is intended for beginners, whether they be in college, reading circles, or study clubs.  Towne includes a wealth of information in this book.  His sources are meticulously presented along with questions and suggested additional reading at the end of each chapter.  The chapters also start with a very useful outline.  This helps at a glance to understand key points that will be discussed.  Supplementary questions, organized by chapter, are located in the back of the book, and are designed to promote further investigation in which outside sources would need to be referenced to answer.  I believe the goal is for the student to familiarize themselves as to what data is available and how to use it.  The book, of course, is dated as it is from 1929.  But, it gives a very interesting view of how the United States came to that point in time and the issues that it was facing.

Chapter one is about the influence of natural conditions on man’s social condition.  “Through lack of stimulus to exertion, the people become indolent, lacking in initiative.”[4]  Towne is talking about ancient civilizations, but I wonder if this may not be true of our own times as well.  Necessity is the mother of invention and adversity makes us stronger.  If we have all our needs taken care of, will we become better people, or worse?

Chapter two is about population: present status, rate of increase, density, race, illiteracy, voting strength, etc.  Some interesting facts about race:

Of the total number of people in the United States, about nine tenths are white, and one tenth negro.  The other races make up less than one half of one per cent of the population.  The negro population, although it has increased steadily, has increased less rapidly than the white.  At the time of the first census, negroes constituted a little less than one fifth of the total population.  During the past decade, the rate of increase of the whites has been about double that of the negroes.  This is accounted for by the fact that immigration brings in white people almost exclusively.  The negroes are largely congregated in the Southern states, where they constitute about one third of the population.  In two of the Southern states, Mississippi and South Carolina, the negroes constitute more than half of the population.  In fifteen out of the thirty-two Northern and Western states, of the total population less than one per cent are negroes.[5]

I think it is important to note the changes that have occurred in our country over the last hundred years.  This will help us better understand where we are today.  Some of the people that lived in this time are still alive today, and many more were raised by people who lived through this time.  So, what may at first appear a long time ago and not very relevant, is in truth, very relevant in understanding who we are today.  In continuing the race discussion, he mentions that the Indian (Native American) population of 244,000 has decreased 21,000 compared to the decade before when they had an increase of 28,000.  That is a very significant change and he does not elaborate.  The number of Chinese was 62,000 and Japanese 111,000 with about three fifths of these living in California.

The section on nativity had several interesting facts and observations. The population in 1920 showed that 87% were native-born and 23% were foreign-born.  Of the 14 million people of foreign birth, 1.5 million come from Germany, 1.5 million from Italy, 1.4 million from Russia and a little over one million each from Poland, Great Britain, Canada, and Ireland.  The proportion actually reflects a slight decline of immigration from northwestern countries of Europe and an increase from countries in southeastern Europe.  A dramatic contrast can be seen in comparing the 1850 numbers of immigration when 90% of the foreign born came from northwestern Europe to the 1910 census when these same countries contributed less than 50% of the total.  Whereas the countries of southern and eastern Europe had contributed less than one percent in 1850, by 1920 they had contributed 27%.  “A very decided tendency to gather in particular districts is shown among the foreign-born.”[6]  For example: 50% of those from Austria, 40% of those from Hungary, and almost 50% from Italy and Russia have settled in New York and Pennsylvania; 25% of the Irish live in New York, 33% of the Welsh in Pennsylvania, 25% of the Norwegians and 20% of the Swedes live in Minnesota.  There is also a strong tendency for the foreign-born to live in cities, with nearly 75% of them doing so.  “This may be partly accounted for by the fact that there is now comparatively little conveniently located and fertile land available for settlement or obtainable at a low price.”[7]

The sex of the immigrants was mostly male.  “In the United States there are over two million more males than females, the ratio being one hundred and four to one hundred.  This excess is due to the very large immigration throughout the past two decades.  Among the immigrants who arrived in the United States during the decade 1910-1920 there were no less than one hundred and sixty-seven males to one hundred females.”[8]

The 1920 census classified illiteracy as those who could not write.  Of those age ten and older this amounted to six percent of the population or almost five million people.  “This proportion is largely due to the number of negroes and of foreign-born within the United States.  The proportion of native whites is 2.5 per cent; of foreign-born is more than 5 times this, or 13.1 per cent; of negroes is 9 times this, or 22.9 per cent.  This high proportion among the negroes, however, is declining very rapidly.  In 1920 it was only one third of what it was in 1890.”[9]  When looking at the illiteracy of the sexes it was found to be slightly higher in males than for females.  Towne states this may be due to a “changing attitude toward the education of women.”[10]

Back to immigration, Towne observes that “For the last several years, about one third of the immigrants have returned to their own countries, after having worked here for a comparatively short time.”[11]  Is due to people returning to their own country after the Great War?  I find this a very interesting piece of information and I wonder what it is today and if we even measure it.  Towne compares the “old” with the “new” type of immigrant.

“The people brought in by the old immigration more nearly resembled the people already here, since many of them came from the same countries as did our ancestors only a few generations earlier. … The old had a similar language, similar religious beliefs, and much the same ideals of government as the Americans, and their customs, habits, and modes of thought were similar to those in this country.”[12]  This similarity allowed a mutual bond of acceptance and trust to develop.  When the opposite happens, it will breed fear and distrust, and this cannot be ignored and told to go away, it needs to be addressed and acknowledged.  “The new immigrants, in particular, have shown themselves to be more clannish, and come less inclined to learn the language and customs of the country.”[13]  This fear and distrust is mutual between the immigrant and the established citizen.  “Their coming in such large numbers and settling in the communities where there are already great groups of foreign-born, increases the difficulty of assimilation.  The newly arrived immigrant goes to these districts densely populated by his own countrymen, where he hears his own language, and where the customs and habits of his home prevail, and the process of Americanization is materially hindered.”[14]  These issues appear to me to be very relevant to today.  Immigration issues are a hot topic and perhaps by looking at history and realizing what was done before, what worked and did not work, perhaps, just perhaps, we might be able to make wise and prudent decisions today.

One of the problems with democracy in general but especially with an influx of immigrants who become new citizens and do not completely understand our language and political system, is the fact that they are very susceptible to influence from propaganda.  “They do furnish large numbers who are easily controlled by the industrial and political boss.  It is not that the foreigner sells his vote outright, but he is not qualified to vote intelligently on the questions, and because of his dependence upon some man versed in politics, skilled in winning confidences and in dispensing advice, he often becomes the tool of the ward politician.”[15]

Under child labor and the conditions in school, Towne observes that “Through some defect in the school system, the studies given between the tenth and thirteenth years seem to fail to hold the interest and to grip the attention of the boys and girls.  School work and routine begin to look impractical to them, and discipline grows irksome.”[16]  I am not exactly sure, but I believe this defect still occurs today.

The view of child labor and child idleness is noteworthy.

Any consideration of child labor should not overlook child idleness.  Since industry has been taken so largely out of the home, it is exceedingly difficult in many communities to find work suitable for the child.  In many homes this is a greater problem than child labor.  The earnings are not needed to supplement the family income, yet it is recognized that it is most harmful for the young person to have nothing to do – simply to drift along in idleness.  … It becomes increasingly difficult for such young persons to overcome the habits of idleness thus formed, and to hold themselves to any line of work or study requiring steady, consistent application of either mental or physical powers.[17]

As this problem is now generations in the making, has it manifested itself full bloom in our current society?  Is there a large section of our population who has been nurtured in such a way that it is detrimental to society as a whole?  And if so, what is the solution?  There is something within mankind that needs to work, to labor for something that they feel is worthwhile.  I believe it was in the encyclical Rerum Novarum by Pope Leo XIII that I read about the dignity of man is preserved through labor.

Towne’s answer to the child idleness problem is to provide “wholesome recreation” and “by permitting the use of school grounds and school gymnasia during vacation periods, by providing public bathhouses, and especially by employing a play expert.”[18]  But not all this time needs to be spent in play, he suggests “there is no reason why the school day should not be lengthened, not necessarily by more extended study periods, but by extending the time devoted to industrial training and domestic science, and by varying this work with the study and play periods.  Such use of idle time will partially compensate for the loss of old-fashioned home training that is so rapidly being lost in modern homes.”[19]  I wonder if mandatory public education is truly a good?  Has it not aided in destroying the home unit?  It appears that we have lost sight of why we had the schools to begin with.

The next chapter is about women in industry.

The employment of large numbers of women tends to weaken the home.  Young women who begin at an early age as wage-earners are deprived of their preparation for home-making, and often become dissatisfied and unwilling to settle down to the routine of a home.  For a large number of married women to be employed means their absence from the home for the time that they are employed.  This is more serious when there are children, because it not only prevents the mother from giving her best to the home, but also keeps her away from the children when they are in need of training and care.[20]

This appears as common sense to me.  I am sure there are women rights groups out there that will disagree with me.  But there is a special vocation for women in the home.  It is honorable, and I believe that our Blessed Mother Mary provides that role-model.  Now this is not the calling of all women, but motherhood, raising the family, and running the family household, should be the norm, not the exception.

The number of women in the wage-force, and the types of occupations they were engaged in, had increased rapidly by 1929.  “At the last census, of the five hundred and seventy-two occupations listed women were found in all but thirty-five.”[21]  Women outnumbered men 2:1 in domestic and personal service, in transportation the ratio is 1:14 and in the mining industry, in which I was surprised to hear women were working in, it was 1:333.[22]

“Contract work, and even subcontracting, has always been associated with sweat shop work.  It is through the contract that the work is parceled out to the various homes and shops.”[23]  How true this is today.  One can hire a sub-contractor or outsource the work instead of having it done in-house with your own employees.  This is a great evil and is done in the name of saving money in the long run.  However, in my opinion this actually deteriorates our social system.  In the name of profit, we isolate ourselves from those doing the labor.  That way we can wash our hand of the guilt that we are performing.  We know these workers are getting paid less, have less or no benefits.  But we acquiesce to this because it is removed from our direct control.  We even feel like we are helping these people out.  In reality it is those that are less fortunate, those who can be easily manipulated, that settle and fall into these jobs working as sub-contractors.  Think about that the next time you hear about something being outsourced.

“From 4 to 5 per cent of the wage-earners of the country are in the employ of the government.”[24]  Wow.  I am not sure, but I believe this is now four or five time this amount now.  These numbers usually do not include sub-contractors.  So why do we need so many more people in government jobs?  And as we become more and more state run, will we not by necessity become more and more under state control.  The problem also becomes with such a monstrosity, who is held accountable.  The shell game begins, and nobody knows who to really blame.  That is the problem, responsibility and liability can be traded and swapped around like musical chairs.  It was not our department faults, we did not know, it must have been them, ad infinitum.

When discussing the unemployed and the problem of those just wanting a hand-out, Towne states:

It is a social crime to hand out food, old clothes, or particularly money, to the individual who appeals for such at our back doors.  Such indiscriminate giving not only permits this class to live in idleness, often supplementing what they get through begging by petty thefts, but it also encourages others to follow such a life as this rather than to hold any steady work.  Those really in need should not be permitted to suffer.  The larger cities can meet the situation by the combined activities of the different missions and the associated charities.  The smaller communities should meet this problem by providing some sort of work by which those honestly in need of a meal or a night’s lodging can earn enough to pay for it.[25]

What sounds at first very harsh, is true.  We should not be enablers.  But we need to truly love our neighbor and do what is right and just for them.  Instead we have given the job to the government and washed our hands of it.  We need to take it back, for the most part, and put into the hands of the communities, missions, and churches.  Not organizations under government control, but rather people helping people.  We need it.  We need to be actively engaged in helping people.  Not just allow a third party to perform it for us.  The fact is, it may actually help us, as much or even more, to help other people, than those that are actually in need.

This book was written right at the beginning of the prohibition.  The following is just some of the justifications for controlling alcohol.  “Accepting only the most conservative figures, we are justified in concluding that liquor was the cause of at least one fifth of the insanity, one fourth of the poverty, and one half of the crime in this country; that it materially increased the death rate; that it seriously affected the health and vigor of the individual; and that it was a most potent force of race degeneracy.”[26]  Temperance is truly the answer, but the not the temperance that was decreed.  Alcoholism was not the problem, it was a symptom of another problem.  Even in medicine today, we too often treat the symptom instead of the actual cause.  Why was alcohol a problem?  Why are drugs a problem today?  These are symptoms of a moral problem.  These are symptoms of a diseased society.  It is society as a whole that must be cured.  When we turn back to God and stop living only for ourselves.  When we truly live in a well-ordered state with Justice and Truth and Beauty, then and only then will we fix these problems.  Now, I know that what I mention is a utopian society, but it is imperative to set our goals on the best, the true good, and then model our society as best as we can upon this.  Plato’s Republic is not only a guide for society and the state, but also a guide for the state that is our own self.  We must strive for the good.

Under the liquor problem, Towne also mentions those that had advocated a license for regulating the liquor traffic.  “Many advocated high license as a means of regulating the liquor traffic.  They argued that we cannot prohibit, and therefore it is better to regulate, this traffic.  This system lessened the number of saloons in many places, and was a source of considerable revenue to the local units of government.  The danger of this system was that in licensing the traffic we gave it official recognition, if not justification and sanction.  It gave a community a false sense of security.  The people were apt to feel that since the traffic was regulated, they had no further responsibility in the matter, and they were apt to be quite indifferent as to the effects of the traffic.”[27]  And there’s the rub!  Reread this again and place it in today’s world and the discussion of legalization of marijuana.  It is not a simple issue.  I think we need to really study the prohibition, before, during, and after.  What were the issues?  What led up to it?  What exactly went wrong?  What were the successes and failures in regard to legal issues, societal issues, psychological issues, and moral issues?  By looking at this issue in a very critical way, we can learn what to do and what not to do.  We must always keep in mind though what is truly the Good thing to do.  To often we are swayed by the monetary benefits.  Whenever I hear an argument and it pivots on the amount of money we will get so we can use this to overcome the evils inherent in a proposal, I shy away.  Evil cannot be done to promote good.

In discussing poverty, Towne states, “Poverty is a relative term.  We have used it to denote that large class who are just unable to obtain such necessaries as will permit them to maintain a state of physical efficiency, down to those who are living in utter destitution.  Above this line are found those large numbers who are able to provide a comfortable living, and even enjoy some of the luxuries of life.  At the upper extreme of this scale are found the comparatively few families with their superabundance of wealth.  Many would claim that this extreme concentration of wealth is one of the chief causes of poverty.  There is no question but that it is at least a very important contributing cause.”[28]  I agree that poverty is a relative term as we use it.  Therefore, it is always shifting and changing.  The problem with this issue is we can fall down that slippery slope where we take away the right of property and end up with a social state.  The tyranny of the majority quickly turns into the tyranny of the minority, and then into just a tyrant, one who is supposed to be the savior of the people but is in actuality their oppressor.

On the conversation of human life, Towne discusses infant mortality and the views of the times.  “The care that a people takes of its children may well be said to be an index of the character of that people.  The savage nations believed that great numbers of children were a burden, and should be gotten rid of in one way or another.  But ours is a civilized nation, and, as we like to say, a Christian nation.”[29]  Oh how far we have fallen.  The number of abortions, the belief that a large family is a disgrace, that too many children are a burden upon society, is the new norm.  Are we truly a civilized nation?  Do we still consider ourselves a Christian nation?  May God have mercy on us.

Change is good, right?  Towne discusses a recent movement that is growing rapidly, eugenics.  “From our study of crime, pauperism, insanity, and feeble-mindedness, we have seen what a large part heredity plays in all of these problems, and of the importance from a social standpoint of segregating the unfit.”[30]  Many associations have looked into the matter and it appears that this is given a green light.  “In 1914 a Race Betterment Congress was held, at which many constructive measures were proposed looking toward race improvement.  A number of the states have recently passed eugenic marriage laws.  Whether or not such laws will prove as beneficial as their advocates hoped remains a question; they at least are serving an important function in calling attention to the whole subject of eugenics, including the evidences of race deterioration, and the needs and possibilities of race improvement.”[31]  This is a prime example of how what sounds like a great idea at first by a group of people can turn into something so much more.  I believe I read somewhere that the Germans modeled their eugenic program off of ours.  Scary.  Be careful about change, make sure it is truly a good.

A good idea was the Pure Food Bill in 1906.  “Shortly before this, the Bureau of Labor had made an investigation of the household budget of a number of families of the working class.  An analysis was made of some of the foods most commonly purchased by the workingman, and the amount of adulteration indicated a most alarming state of affairs.  It was shown that ‘the canned goods were generally freshened or colored with chemical salts, and preserved with boracic or salicylic acids,’ that sugar, molasses, flour, meal, coffee, tea, vinegar, milk, butter, cheese, and candies were very generally adulterated, and often with substances which were most deleterious to the health.  It was also shown that diseased meats were often thrown on the market, and that meats, milk, and eggs were often kept unduly long through the use of formaldehyde and other preservatives.”[32]  It was estimated that 60,000 babies died each summer due to being fed impure milk.  This led to the FDA and I think everyone can agree that it is a good thing as long as they practice integrity.

Overall the book was very informative.  I think I ended up with more questions than I started with.  Questions that I most likely would have never thought of before.  I am now armed a little better to question our own social issues.  Remember your never to old to learn new things, and just because it is an old book, doesn’t mean you can’t learn something from it.

[1] “Ezra Thayer Towne,” Prabook at www.prabook.com, accessed on June 19, 2018, https://prabook.com/web/ezra_thayer.towne/1046931 .

[2] Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 19 June 2018), memorial page for Ezra Thayer Towne (1 Apr 1873–27 Feb 1952), Find A Grave Memorial no. 25629511, citing Memorial Park Cemetery, Grand Forks, Grand Forks County, North Dakota, USA ; Maintained by lk51t (contributor 46777087).

[3] Towne, Ezra Thayer, Social Problems: A Study of Present-day Social Conditions (New York: The MacMillan Company, 1929), Preface vii.

[4] Ibid., 9

[5] Ibid., 25

[6] Ibid., 28-9

[7] Ibid., 29

[8] Ibid., 30

[9] Ibid., 31-2

[10] Ibid., 32

[11] Ibid., 37

[12] Ibid., 39

[13] Ibid., 40

[14] Ibid., 41

[15] Ibid., 48

[16] Ibid., 67

[17] Ibid., 78-9

[18] Ibid., 79

[19] Ibid., 79

[20] Ibid., 83

[21] Ibid., 85

[22] Ibid., 85

[23] Ibid., 98

[24] Ibid., 150

[25] Ibid., 151-2

[26] Ibid., 271

[27] Ibid., 273-4

[28] Ibid., 302

[29] Ibid., 371

[30] Ibid., 381

[31] Ibid., 381-2

[32] Ibid., 382