Progressivism 119governistone.OnceVillardwasin charge,the magazinepredictablyvauntedMadison
Grantfor his eugenicistviews.The pagesofThe NationsangthatthePassingof the Great
Raceexhibited“distinctqualitiesof originality,conviction,andcourage.”^147 It is a bit
peculiarthatthe brainsbehindthe NAACP’s foundinghad knowinglypublisheda piece
that glorifieda white-supremacisttract.
EdwardRoss,SocialControl,and the Controlof Ross’s Reputation
In fact thereis but one progressiveeugenicist^148 whomSDATopenlyidentifiesas both
a “Progressivethinker” andsomeonewhofoundthe eugenicists’ “biologicaldata” to be
“authoritative.” Thislonefigureis sociologistEdwardAlsworthRoss.Eventhen,to
whitewashhis ownprogressiveideologicalsympathies,RichardHofstadterseparates
himselffromRossby qualifyingthat,beneaththe progressiveveneer,Rossmuststill have
been“conservative” in his “generalbias.”^149 Subsequentto conferringso muchpraise
uponLesterWardfor his anti-capitalism,Hofstadter,Ravitch,andEkircheachconfirm
Rossto be an admirerof Ward’s argumentsagainstfreeenterprise.^150 Rosseventually
marriedWard’s niece.Describinghim as botha “supporterof Populismin his earlydays”
and“latera friendof manymuckrakers,” HofstadterwritesthatRoss“expressedin his
formalwritingsthe aggressivespiritof protestand reform.... In his earlyworkRosstore
downthe analogybetweennaturalselectionand the economicprocess,and condemnedit
as ‘a caricatureof Darwinism,inventedto justifythe ruthlesspracticesof businessmen.’
“^151
GeorgeE. MowrycountsRossamongthe greatsociologistswhoassistedWardin his
“sustainedtheoreticalattackagainstSumnerandhis mentorSpencer” for their“social
Darwinism.”^152 EkirchreportsthatEdwardA. Ross’s 1901monographSocialControl,
whichwas“dedicatedto Wardand admiredby TheodoreRoosevelt,calledfor the mod-
ificationof the Darwinianstrugglefor survivalthroughorderlyreformand organization.
Laissezfaire,he maintainedin his laterworkSin and Society(1907),wasobsoletein the
moderninterdependentworld.” Ekirchexpressesgratitudethat“sociologistslike Ward
and Rossgaveimportantintellectualencouragementto Progressivistideals.” ThenEkirch
furtheraddsthatRoss,like Ward,wasamongthe Progressiveswho“soughtto control
progressand sustainhumanvalues.”^153 Humanvaluesis an interestingphraseto attachto
whatRossandWardadvocated.RecallfromBookOnethatDianeRavitchquotesfrom
Ross’s explanationthathis desirewasfor governmentschools“to collectlittleplastic
lumpsof humandoughfromprivatehouseholdsand shapethemon the socialkneading
board.... Andso it happensthat the role of the schoolmasterin the socialeconomyis just
beginning.”^154
Moreover,Rossarguedon eugenicgroundsfor closingoff the bordersthatforeigners
crossedto reachthe UnitedStates.“TheprogressivesociologistEdwardA. Ross.. .”
Ravitchscribes,“warnedaboutthe dangerto Americansocietyof continuedimmigration
fromsouthernand easternEuropeand the Orient.”^155 Rossspecifiedin his ownwordsthe
particulartypeshe foundobjectionable:“Latins,Slavs,Asiatics,andHebrews.”^156 Ross
warnedthat suchgroups“lackthe ancestralfoundationsof Americancharacter,and even
if they catch step with us they and their children will nevertheless impede our
progress.’”^157 NewspapersquotedRosszealouslyadvocating,“Shouldthe worstcometo
worst,it wouldbe betterfor us if we wereto turnour gunsuponeveryvesselbringing
[Asiatics]to our shoresratherthanpermitthemto land.”^158 In fact,observesStefanKühl,
it wasRosswhocoinedthe expressionrace suicidein 1901,and it wasTheodoreRoosevelt
whosoonadoptedit.^159 WhenRosswaspubliclycriticizedin his ownlifetimefor sup-
portinggovernisteugenics,yet anotherfamousprogressive—economistRichardT. Ely—
cameroaringto his defense.^160