OUTLINES OF A POLICY OF REFORM 277 



the bulk of the cost of our common, social pro- 

 tection. 



As a result of this policy, many farmers, men upon 

 whom we must largely depend if we are to eradicate 

 the disease, are in a conspiracy to prevent the de- 

 tection of infected cattle. They are human and their 

 conduct is human. It is our public policy in the 

 matter that is at fault; it is unjust in the extreme. 

 Said one old farmer to me: "We farmers, working 

 with the state, could wipe out the plague in ten 

 years or so. But instead of the state treating us as 

 equal parties in a great effort for the common good, 

 it penalizes us. Instead of breeding healthy cattle 

 from sound stock and giving the farmer healthy 

 animals in the place of those it condemns and 

 slaughters, which would be just and wise, the state 

 takes 60 per cent or more of the value of our cattle 

 away and drives us toward bankruptcy and ruin." 



That old farmer spoke bitterly, but with a certain 

 justice. I do not know whether his suggestion of 

 breeding cattle upon state or national farms and 

 replacing the condemned animals with healthy ones 

 would be practicable or not. If so, it would meet 

 one very great objection, the fear of a meat and milk 

 famine as a result of the lessening of the number 

 of dairy cattle. If diseased animals were replaced 

 with healthy ones, there would be no such famine. 

 It is not for me to express an opinion as to the practi- 



