Evening star., 1918-06-03
Use Your Government.
by DR.. FRANK CRANE.
Copyright. 1851

A book entitled Use Your Govern
ment." by Alissa Franc. lies upon my
table. 1 wish II lay upon the table OF
every family in the United States.
Most Of us have a very vague idea
of a governments business. And
when the idea is not vague IL is
wrong. From reading what the poll
ticians and reformers say we get the
notion that the government is
helpless. wasteful and incompetent
affair. AS a matter of fact. the gov
immense practical help to the peo-
pie. 1t would be more so IL the peo-
pie understood how to use 1t.
This book goes at the matter in a
concise and Ineligible way.
1t is in eight parts. The first part
is about the farmer. 1t shows him
how the government can assist him
in planting and growing his crops. in
| controlling destructive insects. in
improving his live stock. in forest fire
protection. in procuring farm hands.
in marketing, in farm finance. in
dealing with diseases prevalent in
rural districts, in organizing courses
of reading for country families. and
to the farmer but to his wife and 20
the girls and boys The government
conducts farmers institutes and
! movable schools and experiment sta
tions: 1t supplies almost any informa-
tion that is wanted.
The second section is for the set
tier. telling him Of the disposition of
public lands. and such matters as ir-
rigation. redemption of arid districts,
forest surveys work and the geologi-
cal survey.
Part three shows the assistance the
government can be to the man in
business. the practical assistance il
furnishes to the mining industry. the
fish industry, the fur trade. the lum-
herman. the shipper and the like. 1t
shows the governments interest in
the development of water power. in
the preservation of the national
parks. Also how the business man is
helped by the Federal Trade Commits
sion. the Federal Reserve Board and
Interstate Commerce Commission.
Part four Is about the working man.
Through its Department OF Labor the
government is doing what IL can to
improve the condition of labor. Here
you will find an explanation of how
| the government finds employment for
labor. information concerning labor
statistics. mediation in disputes.
measures taken for the safety and
health of miners. Investigations on
occupat tional diseases and industrial
hygiene. and supervision of seamen's
contracts.
Part FIVE is devoted to the immi-
grant: how he is cared for during de-
tention at the immigrant stations,
how he is helped to get employment.
how he is taught citizenship in Eng
lish.
Part six relates to the negro; what
is being done for his education in all
parts of the United States, assistance
given to the negro farmer, home
economics for the negro woman.
for negro children.
Part seven is about THE Woman in
Her Home" The government makes
careful Investigations. and gets ad-
vice concerning the practical prob
lens of the home, on the inspection
of food. drugs and meat and the
purifying of water. 1t has a special
department for the mother and baby.
and a division in the employment
service especially for women.
Part eight refers to girls and boys:
what the government does to assist
education. it's employment service
and the enforcement Of the federal
child labor act
The government of the United
States is not paternal, but itNis fra
ternal 1t can be of much more help
to each one of us. II we understand
its activities better. In no country Of
the world and at no time in history
has any nation undertaken more Sc
riously and more efficiently the prob
lem of assisting the individuals who
compose it,