To THEODORE ROOSEVELT GIFFORD PINCHOT JAMES WILSON FREDERICK NEWELL and that group of constructive workers in our government service who, during the past decade, have stood for Justice and Equality of Opportunity, and who have always "set the common good of all of This Book is Dedicated 355350 The vital welfare of a nation is of larger import than the physical extension of its borders. The effort to raise life to its highest value once the work of the individual or the group is now recognized of such importance that the government itself has entered into social service and the nation has acknowledged the work of human uplift as its highest prerogative. The purpose of this book is to point out some of the lines along which our nation is moving toward a larger co-operation in the interest of all the people, the plain people as well as the prosperous; to show a nation at work in internal improvement rather than in foreign conquest; to exhibit real democracy in the forming. This is not intended to be an exhaustive study of all of the uplift work of the nation, but rather illustrative as to methods employed and somewhat suggestive as to what more can be done. In order to trace the development of National Social Service, it has been necessary to include the description of many of the successful efforts along state and municipal lines. I wish to acknowledge the courteous treatment on the part of all government officials when approached for information. The readiness of response on their part and the completeness of the facts which they furnished makes research work in government matters a pleasure. I am greatly indebted to various federal departments for the loan of many of the illustrations used in this book. Los Angeles, Cal. DANA W. BARTLETT |