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。”