316 Conclusion, and Future Outlook 



THE STATE DOING ITS PART 



That the nation and the state are active partici- 

 pants in these new forms of child-conserving and 

 man-saving endeavor is indicated on every side. 



The national government has encouraged the states 

 in the enactment of stringent child-labor laws. In 

 the usual instance children under fourteen to sixteen 

 years of age are prohibited from working away from 

 home at gainful occupations. Correlated with this 

 is the compulsory-education law in the several states. 



The national and state governments have also 

 cooperated in the enactment of laws prohibiting the 

 adulteration of foods and foodstuffs and in enforcing 

 better sanitation. As a result of such measures, state 

 and local, together with the help of greatly improved 

 hospital practice, the infant mortality in several of 

 the large cities has been reduced more than fifty 

 per cent in the past decade. 



Inspired by the splendid pioneer work of the 

 National Playground Association, the cities and towns 

 have recently made very rapid progress in the es- 

 tablishment of playgrounds and recreative centers for 

 old and young. Many millions of dollars have al- 

 ready been expended for such purposes. Now the 

 country districts are adopting the same means of 

 social improvement. 



The primary system of selecting candidates for 

 political office is proving to be a most potent agency 



