increment of land will tend to force into productive work many capable
men who now either idle away their lives, or retire from business
prematurely. It is also important that the well-to-do classes be
encouraged to rear larger families, since it is these classes which
can best afford to give their children the higher forms of training
and education. Lastly, it is desirable to teach that leisure is
disgraceful, and that whether one is rich or poor, the useful and
productive life is the moral and patriotic life. "He who does less
well than he can does ill."

175. DECREASING THE SUPPLY OF LABOR.--Hand in hand with measures
deigned to increase the demand for labor should go consistent efforts
to decrease the supply of unskilled and poorly paid labor. One of the
most effective means of accomplishing this is to restrict by law the
immigration to this country of masses of unskilled workers which glut
the American labor market and force down the wages of unskilled
workmen already here. The general problem of immigration will be
discussed elsewhere; here it is only necessary to note that as an
economic proposition unrestricted immigration is undesirable.

The supply of unskilled labor may be somewhat restricted by additional
laws. It is clear that we ought to pass and enforce laws which would
prevent the propagation of mental defectives. There ought also to be
laws which would discourage the marriage of individuals who show no
promise of being able to rear and support children who are physically
fit. It might not be expedient to pass legislation requiring a certain
minimum income of persons intending to marry, but from the purely
economic point of view, such laws would certainly be advisable.

Much in this general field can be done by non-legislative methods.