systematically controlled or directed by a single agency. It is often
said to be planless, since laborers, employers, and other industrial
agents concentrate upon their individual desires and needs, rather
than upon the needs of the community or nation as a whole.

And yet there is in modern industry a certain regularity of outline,
and a general tendency to follow the economic laws discussed in the
preceding three chapters. This circumstance prevents us from
concluding that our industrial life is entirely a haphazard affair. It
may, indeed, be said that we have an industrial system. Because of the
great importance in it of capital, this system is commonly known as
the "capitalistic system." The underlying principles of this system
have already been mentioned or implied; nevertheless it will be to our
interest in this chapter to develop and organize these principles so
as to indicate just how they constitute the bases of capitalism.

93. ATTITUDE OF GOVERNMENT TOWARD INDUSTRY.--"It is the duty of the
government," Gladstone once said, "to make it easy for the people to
do right, and difficult for them to do wrong." According to the theory
of the capitalistic system, that is "right" which renders the
individual and the community stronger, happier, and more prosperous in
useful pursuits, while that is "wrong" which weakens or demoralizes
the citizen and the community. The chief economic function of
government is thus to discourage men from harmful and destructive
acts, and to encourage them in activities which are helpful and
productive.

Professor Carver points out that the method by which animals get their
living is either destructive, deceptive, persuasive, or productive.
Any one of these four methods may at least temporarily increase the