Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-05-03
TRAINING FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

\ Two of the nations brainiest men
llcross swords in the brilliant and in
l5structive May issue of Success over
/ the question. Should Young Men BE
| Trained for Public Life.
/ Senator Foraker takes the negative
side OF the question. Says ne, i'll his
trenchant. stiletto-like phrasing:
You can not make "a silk purse cut
of a SONS ear NJ amount of educa-
sition. or professional training, will
make man successful as diplomat.
as statesman. or even as politician
unless he has the groundwork of COM
lmon sense integrity of character and a
reasonable aptitude for public affairs.
4 If he has these qualities he can succeed
Sin any avoca ton, other things being
| eaual:s and he is likely to drift, or be
Ical,ed, sooner or later. into the public
service. especially II circumstances
I should occur to make Il demand for
him.
/ special professional training may be
necessary to make a diplomat in the
i European sense, but not lin the Aaeri-
Icun.
Congressman Littlsheld. of Maine,
the able successor Of Nelson Dingley,
takes the other View and expresses the
4 belief thar special training would be a
step IN the way 5f progress. He says.
/ "All hail TO any Improvement IN ad-
iministrations' The better the men in
control. the filter the public servants.
lgavernment The special training of
lsyoung men for the diplomatic service
would be a stepeia this general reform.
I 1t might in time be extended To the
public service in other branches, and
even reflect ar Improvement in the per-
fssonnel of congress. but, for the pres
lfsni. it should be considered With espe-
lcial4reference t3 OH. foreign relations.
The educative effort should be made
Thy the colleges and universities and
Encouraged ard sustained by the ma
iuon. In our great and growing Depart
/ nleat III state We have heretufpia had
merely Intelligent men Of address To
depend upon. ! quite endorse the sug-
gestion that we should haze men not
only intelligent. but also adroit, skilled,
land clever as Well. Let the colleges and
universities enlarge their courses in
Civil government ard political economy,
iani bring them up 10 date. They
should teaehinore living lang Qasass and
fewer dead ones. 1T should be firmly
Henerafted upon the policy of both polit
3ical parties, by declaration and by
practice. that efficient men Wsill be kept
lin positions requiring expert knawls
ledge and diplomatic training regardless
of party changes. OF course, ii would
/ be inconceivable5that discourse should
= eyer become applicable tpeall Offices: as
ffpl' instance. Mr.. Bryan, II elected pres
siidsnt caul! not be eS expected To retain
Eefther Mir. Has; Y, Mr.. Gage atstils head
gof his Respective department.. l:ut
there are official subprdnates eNery
i Where WHO really do he most Of tbs
Work and are Of the highess usefulness
# in the public service, who need not be
disturbed. Civil service reform alone
# will not meet the needs df our national
y growth There must be something
more. and think j have pointed out
/ what II is
/ In the largest and best sense Mr.. Lit
j tletielgl has the most correct view.of the
ssubje set. Native ability Will not take
i the place of special training in any field
\ Of effort