Dean E. A. Birge said:—
"I question whether the history of any commonwealth can show so intimate a relation between the forces which have governed its social development and the principles expounded from a teacher's desk, as that which exists between Wisconsin and the classroom of John Bascom. No social and political movement is even in part the work of one man or one set of men, and no one who knows the history of Wisconsin can be ignorant that the state was fully alive to the need of economic reform before Dr. Bascom came here, and that it was ready to attempt to put such reform into practice. But it is equally true that no social influence in Wisconsin during the past generation has been more potent than that of Dr. Bascom—all the more potent during the quarter of a century in which it has been silent. The social movement of the state has been rapid, sane and just, an unusual and rare combination of qualities. Among the foremost influences that have secured these qualities are those radiating from Dr. Bascom's classroom, appealing first to his immediate students; less immediately, but still directly, to the many students of the university who did not get to his classroom, and through all these affecting the temper of the people of the state."
Strange as it may seem, the same philosophy which was being taught in the University of Wisconsin was slowly becoming the dominating influence in Germany. The strength of this theory, even in remote times, is clearly shown in the writings of early German economists. The belief that it pays the state to concern itself in the betterment of human beings and the protection of human welfare, in order that it may receive in return a rich reward from this investment, is not a new one.
