It may not be generally known that we have in this state, with allied organizations in other states, a Society for “Political Education,” carrying on its work by furnishing and circulating at a low price sound economic and political literature.  Its aim is to publish at least four pamphlets a year on subjects of vital importance.  During the present year, the “Standard Silver Dollar and the Coinage Law of 1878” has been treated by Mr. Worthington C. Ford, secretary of the society; “Civil Service Reform in Cities and States,” by Edward M. Shepard; “What makes the Rate of Wages,” by Edward Atkinson, and others have also been published,—­in all sixteen pamphlets since the foundation of the Society.

The first Secretary of the Society was Richard L. Dugdale, the author of the remarkable social study called “The Jukes.”  The twelfth number of the Economic Tracts of the Society gives a sketch of his life, and from it the following quotation is pertinent:—­

“The education of the people in true politics, it seemed to Mr. Dugdale and his associates, would not only greatly aid popular judgment on political questions, but would be a necessary preliminary to the election of public representatives and officers upon real issues.  If elections were so held, successful candidates would come generally to be men competent to consider and expert in dealing with questions of state and administration.  And if legislators and executives were so competent and expert, and were not merely men accomplished in intrigue or active in party contests, we should have from them conscientious and intelligent social reforms.  Legislative committees, governors, mayors, commissioners of charities and corrections, superintendents of prisons, reformatories, almshouses, and hospitals, would then patiently listen and intelligently act upon discussions and of the condition of the extremely poor and the vicious, and especially of children and young men and women not yet hopelessly hardened.”

Few persons will deny that such a work as this needs everywhere to be done so that the charities of the country shall no longer be administered in the interests of a party.

The Society has been in active operation about four years, and its success has thus far been most gratifying.  It has already induced hundreds of people to make a careful study of American history and politics, and its influence is now felt throughout the length and breadth of this land.  The very fact of such an effort is one of the encouraging signs of the times, and should be encouraged by all who aim for the welfare of the Republic.

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