Ourlandlawshaveofrecentyearsprovedinefficient；yetthelandlawsthemselveshavenotbeensomuchtoblameasthelax，unintelligent，andoftencorruptadministrationoftheselaws。TheappointmentonMarch4，1907，ofJamesR。GarfieldasSecretaryoftheInteriorledtoaneweraintheinterpretationandenforcementofthelawsgoverningthepubliclands。HisadministrationoftheInteriorDepartmentwasbeyondcomparisonthebestwehaveeverhad。Itwasbasedprimarilyontheconceptionthatitisasmuchthedutyofpubliclandofficialstohelpthehonestsettlergettitletohisclaimasitistopreventthelootingofthepubliclands。Theessentialfactaboutpubliclandfraudsisnotmerelythatpublicpropertyisstolen，butthateveryclaimfraudulentlyacquiredstandsinthewayofthemakingofahomeoralivelihoodbyanhonestman。
Asthestudyofthepubliclandlawsproceededandtheiradministrationimproved，apubliclandpolicywasformulatedinwhichthesavingoftheresourcesonthepublicdomainforpublicusebecametheleadingprinciple。Therefollowedthewithdrawalofcoallandsasalreadydescribed，ofoillandsandphosphatelands，andfinally，justattheendoftheAdministration，ofwater-powersitesonthepublicdomain。ThesewithdrawalsweremadebytheExecutiveinordertoaffordtoCongressthenecessaryopportunitytopasswiselawsdealingwiththeiruseanddisposal；andthegreatcrookedspecialinterestsfoughtthemwithincrediblebitterness。
AmongthemenofthisNationinterestedinthevitalproblemsaffectingthewelfareoftheordinaryhard-workingmenandwomenoftheNation，thereisnonewhoseinteresthasbeenmoreintense，andmorewhollyfreefromtaintofthoughtofself，thanthatofThomasWatson，ofGeorgia。WhilePresidentIoftendiscussedwithhimtheconditionofwomenonthesmallfarms，andonthefrontier，thehardshipoftheirlivesascomparedwiththoseofthemen，andtheneedfortakingtheirwelfareintoconsiderationinwhateverwasdonefortheimprovementoflifeontheland。IalsowentoverthematterwithC。S。Barrett，ofGeorgia，aleaderintheSouthernfarmers’
movement，andwithothermen，suchasHenryWallace，DeanL。H。
Bailey，ofCornell，andKenyonButterfield。OnemanfromwhoseadviceIespeciallyprofitedwasnotanAmerican，butanIrishman，SirHoracePlunkett。InvariousconversationshedescribedtomeandmycloseassociatesthereconstructionoffarmlifewhichhadbeenaccomplishedbytheAgriculturalOrganizationSocietyofIreland，ofwhichhewasthefounderandthecontrollingforce；andhediscussedtheapplicationofsimilarmethodstotheimprovementsoffarmlifeintheUnitedStates。Inthespringof1908，atmyrequest，PlunkettconferredonthesubjectwithGarfieldandPinchot，andthelattersuggestedtohimtheappointmentofaCommissiononCountryLifeasameansfordirectingtheattentionoftheNationtotheproblemsofthefarm，andforsecuringthenecessaryknowledgeoftheactualconditionsoflifeintheopencountry。AfterlongdiscussionaplanforaCountryLifeCommissionwaslaidbeforemeandapproved。TheappointmentoftheCommissionfollowedinAugust，1908。IntheletterofappointmentthereasonsforcreatingtheCommissionweresetforthasfollows：“IdoubtifanyothernationcanbearcomparisonwithourownintheamountofattentiongivenbytheGovernment，bothFederalandState，toagriculturalmatters。Butpracticallythewholeofthisefforthashithertobeendirectedtowardincreasingtheproductionofcrops。Ourattentionhasbeenconcentratedalmostexclusivelyongettingbetterfarming。Inthebeginningthiswasunquestionablytherightthingtodo。Thefarmermustfirstofallgrowgoodcropsinordertosupporthimselfandhisfamily。Butwhenthishasbeensecured，theeffortforbetterfarmingshouldceasetostandalone，andshouldbeaccompaniedbytheeffortforbetterbusinessandbetterlivingonthefarm。Itisatleastasimportantthatthefarmershouldgetthelargestpossiblereturninmoney，comfort，andsocialadvantagesfromthecropshegrows，asthatheshouldgetthelargestpossiblereturnincropsfromthelandhefarms。Agricultureisnotthewholeofcountrylife。Thegreatruralinterestsarehumaninterests，andgoodcropsareoflittlevaluetothefarmerunlesstheyopenthedoortoagoodkindoflifeonthefarm。”
TheCommissiononCountryLifedidworkofcapitalimportance。BymeansofawidelycirculatedsetofquestionstheCommissioninformeditselfuponthestatusofcountrylifethroughouttheNation。ItstripthroughtheEast，South，andWestbroughtitintocontactwithlargenumbersofpracticalfarmersandtheirwives，securedfortheCommissionersamostvaluablebodyoffirst-handinformation，andlaidthefoundationfortheremarkableawakeningofinterestincountrylifewhichhassincetakenplacethroughouttheNation。
Oneofthemostilluminating——andincidentallyoneofthemostinterestingandamusing——seriesofanswerssenttotheCommissionwasfromafarmerinMissouri。Hestatedthathehadawifeand11livingchildren，heandhiswifebeingeach52yearsold；andthattheyowned520acresoflandwithoutanymortgagehangingovertheirheads。Hehadhimselfdonewell，andhisviewsastowhymanyofhisneighborshaddonelesswellareentitledtoconsideration。TheseviewsareexpressedinterseandvigorousEnglish；theycannotalwaysbequotedinfull。Hestatesthatthefarmhomesinhisneighborhoodarenotasgoodastheyshouldbebecausetoomanyofthemareencumberedbymortgages；thattheschoolsdonottrainboysandgirlssatisfactorilyforlifeonthefarm，becausetheyallowthemtogetanideaintheirheadsthatcitylifeisbetter，andthattoremedythispracticalfarmingshouldbetaught。Tothequestionwhetherthefarmersandtheirwivesinhisneighborhoodaresatisfactorilyorganized，heanswers：“Oh，thereisalittleone-horsegrangeganginourlocality，andeverydarnedonethinkstheyoughttobeaking。”Tothequestion，“Aretherentersoffarmsinyourneighborhoodmakingasatisfactoryliving？”heanswers：“No；becausetheymoveaboutsomuchhuntingabetterjob。”Tothequestion，“Isthesupplyoffarmlaborinyourneighborhoodsatisfactory？”theansweris：“No；becausethepeoplehavegoneoutofthebabybusiness“；andwhenaskedastotheremedy，heanswers，“GiveapensiontoeverymotherwhogivesbirthtosevenlivingboysonAmericansoil。”Tothequestion，“Aretheconditionssurroundinghiredlaboronthefarminyourneighborhoodsatisfactorytothehiredmen？”heanswers：“Yes，unlessheisadrunkencuss。”
addingthathewouldliketoblowupthestillhousesandrootoutwhiskeyandbeer。Tothequestion，“Arethesanitaryconditionsonthefarmsinyourneighborhoodsatisfactory？”heanswers：“No；toocarelessaboutchickenyards，andthelike，andpoorlycoveredwells。
Inonewellonneighbor’sfarmIcountedsevensnakesinthewallofthewell，andtheyusedthewaterdaily：hiswifedeadnowandheislookingforanother。”Heendsbystatingthatthemostimportantsinglethingtobedoneforthebettermentofcountrylifeis“goodroads“；butinhisanswersheshowsveryclearlythatmostimportantofallistheindividualequationofthemanorwoman。
LiketherestoftheCommissionsdescribedinthischapter，theCountryLifeCommissioncosttheGovernmentnotonecent，butlaidbeforethePresidentandthecountryamassofinformationsoaccurateandsovitallyimportantastodisturbtheserenityoftheadvocatesofthingsastheyare；andthereforeitincurredthebitteroppositionofthereactionaries。ThereportoftheCountryLifeCommissionwastransmittedtoCongressbymeonFebruary9，1909。IntheaccompanyingmessageIaskedfor$25，000toprintandcirculatethereportandtoprepareforpublicationtheimmenseamountofvaluablematerialcollectedbytheCommissionbutstillunpublished。ThereplymadebyCongresswasnotonlyarefusaltoappropriatethemoney，butapositiveprohibitionagainstcontinuingthework。TheTawneyamendmenttotheSundryCivilbillforbadethePresidenttoappointanyfurtherCommissionsunlessspecificallyauthorizedbyCongresstodoso。Hadthisprohibitionbeenenactedearlier/andcompliedwith/，itwouldhavepreventedtheappointmentofthesixRooseveltcommissions。ButI
wouldnothavecompliedwithit。Mr。Tawney，oneofthemostefficientrepresentativesofthecauseofspecialprivilegeasagainstpublicinteresttobefoundintheHouse，waslater，inconjunctionwithSenatorHaleandothers，abletoinducemysuccessortoaccepttheirview。Aswhatwasalmostmylastofficialact，IrepliedtoCongressthatifIdidnotbelievetheTawneyamendmenttobeunconstitutionalIwouldvetotheSundryCivilbillwhichcontainedit，andthatifI
wereremaininginofficeIwouldrefusetoobeyit。Thememorandumraninpart：
“Thechiefobjectofthisprovision，however，istopreventtheExecutiverepeatingwhatithasdonewithinthelastyearinconnectionwiththeConservationCommissionandtheCountryLifeCommission。ItisforthepeopleofthecountrytodecidewhetherornottheybelieveintheworkdonebytheConservationCommissionandbytheCountryLifeCommission……
“Iftheybelieveinimprovingourwaterways，inpreventingthewasteofsoil，inpreservingtheforests，inthriftyuseofthemineralresourcesofthecountryforthenationasawholeratherthanmerelyforprivatemonopolies，inworkingforthebettermentoftheconditionofthemenandwomenwholiveonthefarms，thentheywillunstintedlycondemntheactionofeverymanwhoisinanywayresponsibleforinsertingthisprovision，andwillsupportthosemembersofthelegislativebranchwhoopposeditsadoption。
IwouldnotsignthebillatallifIthoughttheprovisionentirelyeffective。ButtheCongresscannotpreventthePresidentfromseekingadvice。AnyfuturePresidentcandoasIhavedone，andaskdisinterestedmenwhodesiretoservethepeopletogivethisservicefreetothepeoplethroughthesecommissions……
“Mysuccessor，thePresident-elect，inalettertotheSenateCommitteeonAppropriations，askedforthecontinuanceandsupportoftheConservationCommission。TheConservationCommissionwasappointedattherequestoftheGovernorsofoverfortyStates，andalmostalloftheseStateshavesinceappointedcommissionstocooperatewiththeNationalCommission。Nearlyallthegreatnationalorganizationsconcernedwithnaturalresourceshavebeenheartilycooperatingwiththecommission。
“Withallthesefactsbeforeit，theCongresshasrefusedtopassalawtocontinueandprovideforthecommission；anditnowpassesalawwiththepurposeofpreventingtheExecutivefromcontinuingthecommissionatall。TheExecutive，therefore，mustnoweitherabandontheworkandrejectthecooperationoftheStates，orelsemustcontinuetheworkpersonallyandthroughexecutiveofficerswhomhemayselectforthatpurpose。”
TheChamberofCommerceofSpokane，Washington，asingularlyenergeticandfar-seeingorganization，itselfpublishedthereportwhichCongresshadthusdiscreditablyrefusedtopublish。
TheworkoftheBureauofCorporations，underHerbertKnoxSmith，formedanimportantpartoftheConservationmovementalmostfromthebeginning。Mr。SmithwasamemberoftheInlandWaterwaysCommissionandoftheNationalConservationCommissionandhisBureaupreparedmaterialofimportanceforthereportsofboth。TheinvestigationofstandingtimberintheUnitedStatesbytheBureauofCorporationsfurnishedforthefirsttimeapositiveknowledgeofthefacts。OverninehundredcountiesintimberedregionswerecoveredbytheBureau，andtheworktookfiveyears。Themostimportantfactsascertainedwerethatfortyyearsagothree-fourthsofthestandingtimberintheUnitedStateswaspubliclyowned，whileatthedateofthereportfour-fifthsofthetimberinthecountrywasinprivatehands。Theconcentrationofprivateownershiphaddevelopedtosuchanamazingextentthatabouttwohundredholdersownednearlyone-halfofallprivatelyownedtimberintheUnitedStates；andofthisthethreegreatestholders，theSouthernPacificRailway，theNorthernPacificRailway，andtheWeyerhaeuserTimberCompany，heldovertenpercent。
Ofthiswork，Mr。Smithsays：
“Itwasimportant，indeed，toknowthefactssothatwecouldtakeproperactiontowardsavingthetimberstilllefttothepublic。
Butoffarmoreimportancewasthelightthatthishistoryandthehistoryofourotherresourcesthrowsonthebasicattitude，traditionandgovernmentalbeliefsoftheAmericanpeople。Thewholestandpointofthepeopletowardtheproperaimofgovernment，towardtherelationofpropertytothecitizen，andtherelationofpropertytothegovernment，werebroughtoutfirstbythisConservationwork。”
TheworkoftheBureauofCorporationsastowaterpowerwasequallystriking。Inadditiontobringingtheconcentrationofwater-powercontrolfirstprominentlytopublicattention，throughmaterialfurnishedformymessageinmyvetooftheJamesRiverDamBill，theworkoftheBureaushowedthattengreatinterestsandtheiralliesheldnearlysixtypercentofthedevelopedwaterpoweroftheUnitedStates。SaysCommissionerSmith：“Perhapsthemostimportantthinginthewholeworkwasitscleardemonstrationofthefactthattheonlyeffectiveplacetocontrolwaterpowerinthepublicinterestisatthepowersites；thatastopowersnowownedbythepublicitisabsolutelyessentialthatthepublicshallretaintitle……Theonlywayinwhichthepubliccangetbacktoitselfthemarginofnaturaladvantageinthewater-powersiteistorentthatsiteatarentalwhich，addedtothecostofpowerproductionthere，willmakethetotalcostofwaterpoweraboutthesameasfuelpower，andthenletthetwosellatthesameprice，i。e。，thepriceoffuelpower。”