Addams discusses the impact of prohibition on urban communities and notes a gradual increase in availability of alcohol due to home-based distilling. Addams gave this talk to the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Social Workers' Clubs at the Y.W.C.A. building.
Addams offers praise of John Dewey' and his work for social welfare, criminal justice reform, education, and peace. The speech was given on October 19, as part of a seventieth birthday celebration in New York and published in the Survey.