such social problems as industrial relations, health in industry, and
immigration are next considered. From social problems the text passes
to the economic and social functions of government, and thence to the
question of making government effective. The mechanism of government
has been placed last, and for the reason already given, _i.e._ because
a knowledge of the framework of government is valuable only after the
citizen knows something of the needs which that mechanism must be made
to fill.

It has not been easy to compress into a single volume the most
important of our national problems. Obviously, a rigid selection has
been necessary. In this selection the aim has been to discuss the more
important issues of American life, whether economic, social, or purely
political. In dealing with these issues, the attempt has been made to
keep in mind the student's previous preparation; on the other hand,
the civic demands which the future will make upon him have not been
ignored. Some of the problems are difficult, but they are also of
vital importance. Very shortly the student will be confronted, in his
everyday activities, with such puzzling matters as socialism, the
control of immigration, and taxation reform. If the school does not
prepare him to grapple with these questions intelligently, he can only
partially fulfill the obligations of citizenship.

Throughout the text the aim has been to go directly to the heart of
the problem under consideration. The student is not burdened with a
mass of data which would prove confusing, and which would be out of
date before he is out of school. Instead, an effort has been made to
outline, first the essential nature of the problem, and second the
fundamental principles which affect its solution. Care has been taken
to cultivate the problem attitude, and to encourage the spirit of