GREAT AMERICAN ISSUES

AMERICAN ISSUES

POLITICAL SOCIAL ECONOMIC

(A CONSTRUCTIVE STUDY)

BY

JOHN HAYS HAMMOND

AND

JEREMIAH W. JENKS

NEW YORK

CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS

H3

COPYRIGHT, 1921, BY

CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS

Published February, 1921

Prof A. F. Lauge

to Education Ayet.

I.-TO-DAY AND TO-MORROW

Preparation as essential for peace as for war—Inter-

nationalism during the war-The limitations of inter-

national friendship-Political and industrial unrest

intensified by the war-National readjustments neces-

sary to meet new conditions-Scope of the problems

to be solved-Inadequacy of pre-war standards of ef-

ficiency-American advantages and disadvantages con-

trasted-Fundamental difference between conditions in

America and Europe-The "vicious circle" of cheap

labor, low costs and over-production-Importance of

a more equitable distribution of wealth-Substance

rather than form the test of popular Government-

America's opportunity in promoting world Democracy

-Meaning of the term "Democracy"-The relation of

individual to national welfare-Problems involved in

promoting individual welfare-Fundamental impor-

tance of education.

Democracy versus Autocracy-Essentials to the ex-

pression of the Democratic Ideal-The proper func-

tion of Government-The criterion of Good Govern-

ment-The limitations of Government-Popular

fallacies as to the scope and power of Government-

Governmental action restrictive rather than con-

structive-Functions assigned to the Government by

Common Consent-Government ownership versus pri-

vate ownership of public utilities-The evils of Gov-

ernment Ownership-Its Political Consequences—

Freight rates on Government owned and on privately

owned railways-Postal service a logical Government

monopoly, not always efficient-The proper basis for

determining the question of Government ownership-

Political ideals versus methods of administration-Dis-

content with the Government a normal characteristic

of Democracy-What the Government can do.

66248.

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