The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-31
The Letter of Former District
Attorney Philbin.
FIDELITY TO HIS TRUST
His administrator Of the Affairs OF the
Affairs Of New York County Was
Non.Partisan- Democrat, but
Not Party Man.
By Hon. Eugene a. Phiibin.
Former District Attorney Of New York

whose Judgment or perception is clouded
by prejudced adherence TO his party.
lii that sense my administration Oh the
Office of district attorney of the county OF
New York was on-partisan and not
from the point of view that ceased TO be
a party mansI remained Democrat,
but felt that true loyalty to my party
means fidelity to the trust to be dis
charged.
N When assumed the office understood
that had been appointed as a Demo-
crat; in other words. that Governor Roose-
welt would not have made the appoints
1ent If l had been Republican, but
would have selected some Democrat who
he believed would administer the Office
solely in the interest of the people. The
reason for this was that the official whose
removal made the appointment necessary
WAS Democrat. and the Governor, with
that high regard for the Will of the peo-
pie that has always characterized him,
felt that the appointee should be Of the
same political affiliations as the man
elected to the office. and whom he had
been compelled to remove. The action of
MIR Roosevelt in thus refraining from
taking advantage Of the occasion to give
mis- party a most important and valuable
public office, was greatly appreciated by
the people of Now York, and believe
contributed not n little TO tie election of a
Republican mayor q few months there
atter Had he been guided by the short
patronage was the only way to maintain
Il a party, the Republican party would have
enjoyed the control Of the district attor-
ney's office for one year, but lost the
opportunity Of administering the anairs
OF the city OF New York through the
election of the present Republican Mayor,
MIR. Low.
A farther advantage was gained by
the appointment of a Democrat. for pub
lie officials charged with crime were
,nemb ers of the Democratic party, and II
a Republican had instituted proceedings
against them his efforts would have been
ascrbed to political motives, and the
moral effect II not entirely lost, impair
ed. AS II was. not even those prosecuted
claimed that there was any political con-
sidcrations involved in the proceedings
against them Nor has it come to my
ears that 1t was claimed that any undue
advantage was taken In enforcing the law
under such circumstances.
In the endeavor to bring about munich
pal reform. the men filing subordinate
offices need not be taken into considera-
tipyi,i !ior 1t will be found that with very
Is,rc exceptions they are satisfied TO per,
;hrm their full duty, and to receive no
necunary advantage other than the com.
pensation allowed by law 1t Is fortu-
liatc that this is so. because these men
arc, as a rule irrevocabiy committed to
rublic life, and while from time to time
office yet the vast majority of them are
certain TO return ut some time or other.
and because of the expectation In that re-
gard. never make effort to procure other
employment
The Importance of this is realized when
ne consider that every election adds TO
this class by placing in Office OF men who
for the first time enter public life. This
IS particularly true where the successful
body Is not n regular political orSnniza-
ton, but composed Of citizens who are not
professional politicians, in which event
greater number of persons who have
not previously been dependent upon poll
tics for their living are forever more ider-
tined with the great army of oflceholders
and ofiiceseekers.
For this reason. apart from all civil
service considerations. 1t would seem
tc be clearly to the interests of the
commnnty'Ahat the new head of n de-
partment'' shjurd strive, so far as pos
sible, TO retain those already therein ana
TO try to get them to take a truer view
of their duty to safeguard public inter-
ests. My own experience justifes me in
believing that such a course will result
in procuring better service, not only dur
ing the administration of such depart
mcnt chief, but also after his term ex-
pres. for the reason that such subnr-
dlnates are certain to spend their lives
ir public service. and therefore my
ard is certainly conducive to the FUR
therance of public interests. 1t Is also
fact that il such men arc retained hy,
the new administration they will not
have the same selfish incentive to work
for their party at the next election
From one point of view there Is no
more satisfactory person to deal with
Than the practical politician. His fami-
larity With public affairs and with the
yicisstudes of politics enables him to al
,yl,,,,t 4, . - a..
and nine times out Of ten he bears no
resentment for a denial If he Is satisfied
that you are not actuated by purely
personal or political motives bat simply
by a proper realization of your official
obligation.
A very distinguished judge Of New
York city. who has been many Years on
the civ! bench. ana Is able therefore,
from personal experience aud an un-
usual opportunity for observation, Ia
speak with authority, told me that HIS
Official experience with politicians was
most satisfactory: that with the citizen
who was above politics 1t was very com
mon 70 make requests that involved no
Thing less than n violation of the jndi-
clai oath of Office, They seemed 10 thtnl
That such a consideration should not be
regarded except In the case of politicians
on persons Of humber conditions in life,
~ found that there was n philosophical
submission ~ the inevitable, as renre-
atued hE the lax and prosecuting at
hrnor whose appreciation OF the obliga-
tinIs ha had assumed nrecluded his per
nililnG any circumstances TO interfere
with is proper discharge, II Is not 50
Win people In private life, particularly
tl'pse Of the higher classes. found that
ia WAS quite iHma teIia that the crime
committed was a serious one OF that
tie perpetrator had shown such q dis
position as to render It almost certain
that lie must always be an enemy OF