"Let the people know the truth, and the country is safe.”—Lincoln WE AND OUR GOVERNMENT By JEREMIAH WHIPPLE JENKS Research Professor of Government and Public Administration and RUFUS DANIEL SMITH Associate Professor of Public Economy, New York University With fourteen full page drawings by Hanson Booth, and over The AMERICAN A DEPARTMENT OF BONI&LIVERIGHT INC. DONALD F. STEWART Editor The text of this book has been read and approved by an Editorial Advisory Board New York The American Viewpoint Society a department of Boni & Liveright, Inc. 1922 ~ ED 1 AUTHORS' FOREWORD HE Government of the United States must be carried on by intelligent American citizens who have a grasp of the fundamental principles underlying its organization and activities. The purpose of this first volume of The American Viewpoint Series, "We and Our Government," is to state and discuss these principles simply and concisely. The main emphasis throughout the book is placed on ideas vital to an understanding of the actual workings of our Government rather than on a purely encyclopedic statement of detailed activities which change so rapidly from day to day. The authors are indebted to the Editor of the Series, who, with infinite patience and skill, has re-expressed in pictures and captions the text of the book. These illustrations (there are over 500), with their captions, make in themselves a simplified and concise text emphasizing the outstanding points in each chapter much in the same manner as a moving picture develops its theme. In fact the reader has really three connected narratives: First, pictures; second, captions, and third, text. Educators who have examined the first volume have expressed the opinion that this original plan of illustration makes it for all an exceptionally easy, interesting, and helpful book to read. The authors will indeed be satisfied if "We and Our Government " meets the need so often expressed to them by teachers and students for a book which would explain clearly and simply how our Government works and the principles upon which it is built. If it arouses in its readers a desire to take a greater interest in our country and its problems; to know more of its resources, its economics and its people, then those who are responsible for it will be richly rewarded. The authors are greatly indebted to the members of the Editorial Advisory Board of the American Viewpoint Society for their valuable cooperation in the preparation of the text of this book. New York, September, 1922 J. W. J. R. D. S. |