like, just by stating facts. So with your Society
for Social Research; it would become a great
political, rather than an educational, organiza-
tion; it would almost unconsciously select its
information to suit its hobbies. Why, the thing
is psychologically impossible. If you want
something to be true you will be half blind and
half deaf to anything that obstructs your desire;
that is the way we're made. And even if nature
did not attend to this, money would: as soon
as your society exercised real power on public
opinion it would be bought up, in a gentle, sleight-
o'hand way, by some economic group; a few of
the more influential members of the Society would
be 'approached,' some 'present' would be made,
and justice would have another force to contend
with. No; your Society won't do."

Well, let us see. Here you have a body of
5000 men; rather a goodly number for even an
American millionaire to purchase. They wish to
investigate, say, the problem of birth control;
what do they do? They vote, without nomi-
nations, for six of their number to manage the
investigation; the six men receiving the highest
vote investigate and write out a report. Now
if any report were published which misstated
facts, or omitted important items, the fault
would at once diminish the repute and influence
of the Society. Let merely the suspicion get
about that these reports are unfair, and the

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