18 GREETINGS 



their lessons and all the factors must be studied from various 

 standpoints. The conclusion which has thus been reached is 

 more likely to have weight with the public than if it comes 

 from a single group. In the third place two popular meetings 

 might be held in the evenings for the purpose of arousing public 

 interest and securing a wider hearing for our recommendations. 



Perhaps the best method of conducting these discussions the 

 coming year will be, to formulate the questions to be studied as 

 soon as practicable and send them out to a large number of the 

 most competent investigators and practical social workers in 

 the country with the request to have them send in manuscript 

 brief and pointed answers to the questions, based on their special 

 knowledge and experience, with select bibliographies. The chair- 

 men of sections would be reporters for each of the questions to 

 summarize the arguments and conclusions of the individual 

 writers, and formulate resolutions of a direct and practical 

 character for discussion and adoption by the different groups 

 of specialists and by the general meeting of all the sections. 

 Beyond a brief summary of the studies contributed there 

 should be no long papers, and the whole time would be given 

 to discussion with direct reference to practical conclusions and 

 recommendations to be offered to the public. In this way we 

 should enlist a larger number of competent writers than by 

 the ordinary method and the discussions of the Conference itself 

 would be more intelligent and fruitful. Different experts would 

 be asked to furnish a brief bibliography of the most recent arti- 

 cles and books upon the particular points to be discussed so that 

 those who expect to join in the discussion might prepare them- 

 selves and the members present would be spared the pain and 

 loss of time of listening to ill-digested remarks. There are some- 

 times difficulties in the way of this plan, because of the Amer- 

 ican habit of delay in sending in reports until the last moment, 

 but we can at least attempt to secure ripe and finished results. 



In editing the publications a careful selection of materials 

 should be made by the Chairmen in order to avoid needless repiti- 

 tion of matter already printed in our Proceedings and with refer- 

 ence to practical action in view of the information presented. 



As to topics for discussion, among others we may lay 

 emphasis on eugenics and on social conditions without neglect- 

 ing other important and professional topics. A study of the 

 conditions of infant welfare in rural communities would offer 

 a novel and important topic. 



It is sometimes said that our philanthropy is producing more 

 misery than it relieves when it attempts to save the life of feeble 

 and short-lived infants. Our answer to this is that we cannot 



