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185 Annals Am. Acad. Pol. & Soc. Sci. xvii (1936)

handle is hein.cow/anamacp0185 and id is 1 raw text is: FOREWORD
THE American Academy of Political and Social Science is now about fifty
years of age. When it was first organized, there were but few forums for the
dispassionate discussion of public questions in the field of national and interna-
tional affairs. Through its public meetings and through its publications, es-
pecially THE ANNALS, the American Academy has been a leader. A recent
editorial in one of the most prominent newspapers of the country referred to it
as the granddaddy of the forums.
With the passage of the years conditions have greatly changed. There are
now many forums of many kinds. They are to be found in all parts of the
country. Some exist for special purposes and endeavor to further special
causes in which their members believe. Others carefully avoid propaganda of
any sort. Some are operated on a money-making basis, while others are sup-
ported largely or perhaps entirely by gifts.
Throughout its history, the American Academy has maintained a unique
position. Its appeal is not made primarily to the highly trained technicians in
economics and politics and sociology. That line of effort is being followed
effectively by a number of special organizations whose work need not be dupli-
cated. Nor does the American Academy undertake to dilute its material to
such an extent that it will be fascinating to those who accept without question
every plausible proposal for a social millennium or, on the other hand, mere
denunciations of all plans for national and world betterment.
Between these two extremes there is a vast field for sober discussion. Also,
between those who are ready to seize eagerly and thoughtlessly on any and
every new idea and those who resist them all, there is a vast body of thoughtful
people anxious for a better world but conscious that not all change is good.
They are aware also that our institutions are of our own devising; that they are
constantly evolving; and that to some extent, at least, their form and their
method of operation are subject to human control.
It is this intermediate group of thoughtful business and professional people
that the American Academy seeks to serve. Year after year public meetings
have been held and the bi-monthly issues of THE ANNALS have appeared. But
now a new educational medium is available. Radio broadcasting, with all its
possibilities for good and for ill, is reaching large numbers of people. As a
means of education it has a vast significance, with a correspondingly heavy
responsibility for the broadcasting companies and for the public officials in-
trusted with the duties of supervision.
This volume illustrates a combination of the traditional methods of the
American Academy with the new approach. Its articles discuss our Federal
Constitution in the twentieth century. The papers are written by the ablest
of authorities. Some are statesmen, some are educators, some are men of
affairs. All are deeply conscious of the seriousness and the complexity of the
issues they are considering. Each of them treats his topic with detachment
and with intellectual ability of a high order.
Also, all but two writers have delivered (or soon will deliver) radio addresses
representing summaries of their articles. Beginning on February 4th last
xvii

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