The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-28
FOR THE MERIT SYSTEM
FACTORS THAT ARE SURE TO CON-
PEI EXPANSION IN TIME.
Ii Is n Complete and Efficient safe
nicipaI Affairs Il n Certainty.

~
In reading one Of Dumas delightful ro-
mances not long since I was greatly i'm
pressed with the following passage. II oc-
CURED during an audience between Henry
III. Of France. and his cousin. the Due De
Guise. while the latter was urging the for
nation Of a great holy union TO meet and
combat the growing forces OF the Hugue-
nots. The King was disposed 10 feel safe
because of the forces he had at his COM
mand. but the duke replied: Me are visi-
bic, palpable. mortal. You can meet. at
tack. subdue them: and when they are sub
dued you can subject them 10 trial and
hang them. But ideas you cannot oppose
in that way. sire. They glide unseen. they
penetrate, they hide themselves. especially
from the sight of those who would destroy
them. Hidden in the depths Of the soul.
they there throw out deep roots. The more
you cut of the branches which imprudently
appear, the more powerful and inextirpable
become the roots below. An idea. sire. is a
young giant. which must be watched night
and day; for the idea which yesterday
crawled at your feet. tomorrow VIII dis
pose Of your head. An idea. sire. is a spark
falling upon straw. There is need Of good
eyes 10 discover the beginning Of the con-
iagration; and this is why. sire. millions
Of watchers are necessary. Ii is In order 10
provide for and direct that watchfulness
that L propose to your Majesty that you
appoint a chief for the holy union"
This is a truth that the spokesman over
looks and the advocate OF the merit sys-
tenn forgets. The former thinks that II he
can choke off the appropriation In Con-
gress or IN the state Legislature, or IL he
can secure some modification OF the rules.
or the appointment OF n commissioner I'M
friendly to the reform, that he can efectu-
ally defeat the movement; and the latter.
at times. feels disposed TO agree with him.
A little reflection must convince Us that a
reform founded upon the principles OF
right and justice cannot be defeated by
such means. II may be given a temporary
setback, but ideas. such as are involved in
the merit system, cannot thus be perma-
nently defeated. and all history offers
proof in corroboration. We are now begin
ming to realize that in this generation. as
never before. we are face 10 face with two
standards of morality-the standard OF
the smaller social group and that Of the
larger social aggregate.
II PUBLIC GOOD FIRST.
The merit system, in it's essence, is the
new morality. 1t places the public good
above all else - above personal interest.
above fractional and partisan interests. m
til our people realize that the newer
morality demands that men should place
the public good above all other considera-
tons the merit system cannot be estab-
lished in it's entirety and for all time.
There must be no cessation OF effort until
| the people realize and act upon their reali-
zation that 1.-The good OF a part must. II
| necessary, be sacrificed TO the good OF tho
whole: that love of party must be sub
ordinated TO love of country; that loyalty
tc %neighbors and friends. devotion OF wife
and children even, must be forgotten IL
the public well being is endangered or II
IT exacts the sacrifice" The ethical de-
velopment Of our time is making for the es-
tablishment of the merit system. slowly.
perhaps, as
'.Tha growth which some perchance deem
Wherewith the steadfast coral stems up
rise
solidly until it
Spreads a speck Of green
Into a pleasant island in the seas.
Where, mid tall palms. the cane-roofej
house is seen,
And wearied men shall sit at sunsets hour.
Hearing the leaves and loving Gods dear
power.
1t is not alone the ethical development Of
our time, however, that is making for the
merit system. but likewise the political.
When our national government was found
ed there was a profound distrust OF one
man" power. our ancestors had suffered
greatly at the hands OF George III IN the
irresponsible exercise Of his unrcstrained
and unregulated power. They overlooked
the fact that the trouble did not lie in the
concentration OF power I'm the executive.
but in the responsibility Of hereditary
power and the entire lack Of adequate safe
guards. A government OF checks and bal
ances was established. y premium was pat
upon indlrection. and responsibility was d.
vided up among a large number Of fire.
quently elected officials, subject TO the I'M
written law OF rotation in Office.
Our state governments followed in tho
footsteps Of our federal government. and
our municipalities followed our States. Ef-
hciency was at a discount. and Il has taken
US more than a century 10 realize that ef-
fclency is not 10 be secured through d.
vided responsibility. We appreciate now
the need Of a strong executive and ths
tendency Is towards a responsible Pres
ident, n responsible Governor. and. above
all. a responsible mayor. Congresslonal ac-
ton is in the direction Of placing larger
over and duties In the hands Of the Pres
ident. and likewise Of the State legislatures
10 repose more power I'm the Governor. and
practically all the new charters Of the past
decade have been modelled on the principle
Of concentrated responsibility Ia the hands
Of the mayor. This power. however. should
not. and. In fact. cannot. be efficiently
utilized for the public welfare unless ade-
quately safeguarded. and experience b. rap
idly demonstrating that there Is no safe
guard so complete and efficient as the merit
system. Given a mayor with large powers
OF administration and appointment. With
out civil-service reform. and We have a
dangerous situation. Protect these same
powers by satisfactory civil-scrvioe require
ments OF merit and fitness and good SOW
eminent Is not far on. Potent though the
ethical and political factors making for the
establishment of the merit system may be.
they are Of comparative insignihcance with
the economic forces tending Ia the same
direction.
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
IL is not necessary In this connection TO