362 CONSERVATION 



tioir and paving the way for 'the com- ment. Again, governments are prov- 

 ing slavery ?' ' erbially slow of movement. While 



However wise the men who have pro- they are merely pondering the ques- 

 pounded these two sets of questions, the tion of policy, and wondering whether 

 questions themselves are by no means to strike out on a new line years may 

 profound. The opposing viewpoints elapse during which important inter- 

 from which they proceed are equally ests will suffer. Individuals, how- 

 superficial. No one but the doctrinaire ever, if interested, can move quickly, 

 nowadays insists either that the Gov- Under the joint stock system, to-day 

 eminent shall do everything in the field so common, or under some form of 

 of industry, or that it shall do nothing group cooperation, funds from many 

 at all. On the one hand, it is clear, as sources can promptly be brought to- 

 set forth many years since in the En- gether into a single considerable fund, 

 cyclopedia Britannica by a distinguished and projects of appropriate magni- 

 British economist, that "out of the mere tude launched and carried through to 

 conflict of private interests can never success before government will have 

 come the well ordered commonwealth of even made up its mind whether to act 

 labor." Sore experience has taught the or not. 



civilized world that to leave all indus- In the present stage of industrial de- 

 try to unregulated private activities velopment, and possibly for many 

 is to open a Pandora's box of ills, years to come, it seems probable that 

 On the other hand, no country, with the general good will be best served 

 the possible exception of Ancient through the participation in industry 

 Peru, has ever yet attempted the other of both private individuals and gov- 

 extreme of turning all industry over ernment. The two are complement- 

 to government ; nor, so far as can be ary. The one supplies the place which 

 judged, is any country likely soon, if the other leaves vacant. Each can 

 ever, to do so. learn from the other and each can, in 



In public affairs, as in private, com- some respects, stimulate the other to 



mon sense exercises an influence good works. 



which, in the long run, usually proves How far the present tendency to- 

 dominant. We now know that it does ward public ownership and adminis- 

 not square with sound common sense tration may be carried, and to what ex-- 

 to leave individuals and corporations tent it will limit private initiative, it 

 to do absolutely as they please in busi- may be difficult to forecast. Through- 

 ness. On the other hand, common out the world, an extraordinary drift 

 sense sees no reason for turning all toward increase in governmental ac- 

 business over to government. In the tivities is clearly discernible. Never- 

 inatter of irrigation, for example, the theless, to infer that because govern- 

 reason for not doing so is clear, ments are increasing their activities 

 We have an arid area which, not long they will continue to do so until they 

 since, was greater than the entire Ro- have absorbed all industry is as logical 

 man Empire. Our Government is not as to assume that, because one for a 

 ready to undertake, alone, the task of time has been walking northwards, he 

 reclaiming this vast region. It has will not stop until he has reached the 

 not the funds available. There is not north pole ; or, because an infant is 

 the public demand that it shall per- growing, it must necessarily continue to 

 form the entire work. To be econom- grow until it has exceeded the size of 

 ical, its efforts must ordinarily be the Brobdingnagians of Gulliver's 

 conducted on a large scale. Yet op- Travels. As stated, communities and 

 erations on a small scale are likewise nations, like individuals, learn by ex- 

 necessary. To handle these, individ- perience. Experience has taught the 

 uals and companies are often far bet- civilized world that government must 

 ter adapted than is a great govern- go into business in certain fields for 



