CHAPTER VIII 

 WHAT SHOULD THE NATION PRODUCE? 



FROM the standpoint of the farmer, the guiding principle in 

 the organization of a farm is to seek the largest net profit ; but 

 there is another point of view than that of the farmer, and 

 that is the point of view of the statesman. Since not only the 

 farmer, but every one else, is interested in agriculture, the ques- 

 tion arises, are the interests of the country as a whole best 

 conserved when each farmer follows tenaciously his own self- 

 interest and succeeds in gaining the largest net profits in return 

 for the effort which he expends in agricultural production? 

 There may be, at certain points, a conflict between the narrower 

 and the broader interests. In this case we are confronted with 

 the problem of determining whether the individual or the 

 general interest should be promoted. To the extent that the 

 greatest good to the greatest number demands that the general 

 or social interests be served, it falls within the domain of our 

 subject to propose laws which will limit the free action of in- 

 dividuals in such a manner as to promote the highest interests 

 of society as a whole. 



But while human welfare or the greatest good to the greatest 

 number has long been recognized as the standard by which 

 every law or custom should be accepted or rejected, this prin- 

 ciple is so abstract that men may be fully agreed upon its ac- 

 ceptance as their scandard, and yet hold exactly opposite 

 opinions as to the desirability of a particular measure. The 

 statesman needs a more concrete standard which may be used 

 with safety in his efforts to set proper limits to the free action 

 of farmers and of those with whom they have economic rela- 

 tions, in the pursuance of their daily toils. 



Should the maximum in quantity of farm products be the 

 goal of the agricultural statesman? The phrase, " More food 



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