The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-07-09
Illinois Citizens Want to Know
What Has Become of His Pro-
posed "Merit System"
PROMISED IN THE CAMPAIGN.
Now Charged That He Even
Worked Against the Bill
While 1t Was Pending
in the Legislature.


REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Springfield, H., July s.-'We recommend
the extension OF cIvil-service rules in the
charitable institutions of the State. We
approve the course OF the present State adj
ministration in retaining fully four-Afths
Of the employees OF these institutions. and
call for such legislation from the General
Assembly as will prevent unjust removals
upon change of administration or party in
power."-FrOm Republican State Platform
OF 1892
"First-The merit system; shall the pres
ent applicable to Chicago law be reclaimed?
Shall the system be EXTENDED in spirit and
in letter TO State iRsttutions?' Ny answer
is yes. l am I'm favor OF the merit system.
II l am elected Governor OF Illinois. and If
a law Of the Assembly in regard 10 State
institutions passes the Legislature / shall
approve II and enforce il, If the enforce
ment is put by law within the power Of the
Governor.-Extract from speech by. Candi-
date Yates IN Chicago, October y, $50.
The so-called merit law. or cIv!l-servlce
principles, as applied to the State charitable
institutions OF Illinois. has been -omise
by the Republican party for years. In Oc-
tober, E0, Mr.. Alschuler. the Democratic
candidate. declared uneQuiSoeaily for II, and
he already had a legislative record IN
favor OF the principle. II was felt when
Candidate Yates made the above statement
before a large audience. two days before
his election. that the State charitable insti-
tutions would be divorced from party ma
chimes and their management would be
firmly established and maintained on ques-
tons of fitness and practical business.
a bill providing for q state Board or Con-
troll OF these institutions. eliminating the
gratis" was presented in the Legislature
last year. Il also provided that nurses, at
PENDANTS and other officers and employees
should be engaged on their merits and after
examination as to fitness.
Vas He DeceiVing the PeoDIef
The Republican party was victorious in
the election and it controlled the Degisla-
ture in both branches by good maloTities,
Its candidate for Governor. Richard
Yates, was elected. Why was not the bill
passed? The Governor did not hesitate to
small faVors in both branches OF the. Leg
i%siature. Then why did not he ask the
legislature TO protect his pledge to the
When Richard Yates. candidate and vote
seeker. 50 positively declared himself in IA
yor OF The merit system" was he deliber-
ately deceiving the people?
/ am in receipt of a letter from a Repub-
llcan. whose. name was published In The
Republic 4s having resigned from a SITE
board after Governor Yatess ~inauguracIcn
last year. He reminded me of a converse
subject ee Of this merit system" TbIs gem
tleman was a member Of the Tanner
regime. and. after Mr. Yates got settled in
the saddle. he said his resignation was
place for another man
Il don't want your resignation" replied
AcA AGNCEs 4 Hi alAAApuo ~ AaNC
you continue with my administration and
give me the benefit OF your experience and
practical business methods. 1 want to have
a talk OF an hour or so with you some time
in the near future about plans regarding
your institution"
There were go many Interruptions that
the two did not meet again until some time
in April. 1901. and the interview took place
In the executive office IN the Capitol. Gov
ernor Yates broke the ice himself by ask
ing the Commissioner how he thought tbs
State Institutions should be managed.
81 believe there ought TO be a consolida-
ton of all the charitable boards into one
board to be known as the Board of Con-
troll" was the immediate reply. and that
the superintendent of all institutions
troll and TO no other person"
Governor Is Responsible.
Would you favor any proposition that
would take the institution patronage from
the hands OF the Governor" demanded Mr..
Yates Indignantly. rs not the Governor
directly responsible TO the people for the
conduct Of the State charitable institu-
tons? Am / not qualified TO protect the
States interests and the interests of the
inmates Of these institutions as well as any
'T do not understand, Governor, that the
new law gives you direct control oyer the
true that the Governors OF the past lave
contralled It through the trustees and COM
missioner they have appointed. But Il Is
lieye the State charitable institutions
should be taken out Of politics. and for
that reason l favor the Board OF Control
Good afternoon" and in this hrusque
way the Governor ended the conference In
a few minutes
That interview occurred at the time the
Chicago newspapers were demanding action
from the Legislature on the Board OF Con-
troll bill. The Commissioners resignation
was accepted soon afterwards.
The bill consolidating all the charitable
boards of the State into one body. TO be
known as a Board OF Control, and previd-
ing for a merit system in the institutions.
was introduced carly in the last session.
and soon the Governor sent for
II for the purpose of examining into its
provisions He did not return II TO the
Legislature until the press opened its bat
teTies on the controlling spirits in the Leg
islRture and Speaker Sherman made a for
NAL demand on Governor Yates for its re-
turn. II was then too late to pass the
bill.
The question is pertinent: Did Governor
Yates deliberately deceive his Chicago au-
dience in October. 1900. when he said, Il
am in favor OF the merit system"7
VIII Governor Yates now say he is in IA
vor OF the merit system and a Board OF
Control Of the State charitable institutional
J. l. PICKERING