The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-06-30

petitive examination conducted along
the strictest lines when the postmas-
ter who has charge of them all may be
the biggest cnump in town and no
test is applied to find out his qualifica-
tons. What can be more homogeneous
than to assert that it is absolutely es-
sential for the good of the service"
that all subordinates in bureau must
be rigidly examined in order that men
may be selected who can capably per-
form ordinary duties when the man
under whose regulations they must per-
form these duties and whose orders and
directions they are compelled to follow
is exempt from all examinations? One
might as well assert that it is neces-
sary for angels to possess more know
ledge than the Almighty in order that
heaven should be conducted on correct
principles.
What can be more hilariously funny
than the idea that clerks, elevatormen,
persons VINO wrap books, must demon
strate their intellectual and educational
superiority over their competitors for
the same positions by undergoing Sc
we're examination while there is nothing
in the world to prevent man who can
not read and write from being selected
as one of the lawmakers of the nation?
Three fourths of the senators and
members of congress could not make an
average of seventy per cent in the eX-
animation required of department
clerks. Take for instance Uncle Joe
Cannon, preent speaker of the house, an
ideal congressman. doubt if ne is right
sure whether Washington crossed the
Delaware or whether the Delaware
crossed Washington. No doubt he is a
little hazy on the point as to whether
the Brandywine was a conflict between
English and American armies or a
drinking bout between Yankees and
Britishers with brandy and wine for Ii
quors. His handwriting looks like That
of a school boy, traced with the wrong
end of the penholder. In debate he
murders the kings English while he
nails his opponent to the cross. / don't
believe he could, to save his life, To-
70 ha nf Ac,o ho
rivers of New England that flows into
the Atlantic ocean, and if asked the dis
probably answer that he did not come
from Danville to Washington that way.
About the only scholastic test that he
could pass. with credit would be in fig
ures.
But If Uncle Joe were to be examin-
ed'sin s'Gumption"-t quality which
more tnan any other makes the Ameri-
can citizen first in war and peace; that
has placed the American flag in every
market; that has made the forces of
nature perform the work of man; has
spanned the, continent with bands Of
steel 'uponl which Isl borne ,swifter than
eagles fly the travel and commerce of
the earth; that has anninilated time and
space in the matter of communication.
that has so transmogrified and revolu-
tionized this old planet since the Am
erlcan citizen appeared upon it that he
has almost recasted and made a. new
world out of it, f'Uncle Joe" would
score 100 every time. You can no more
measure mans 'gumption" by a COM
petitiye scholastic examination than YOU
can measure molasses with yard
stick, or judge a baseball players abil-
ity by the way he plays seven up.
Scores of people will admit that the
Hon. Frank Eddy has slammed the
nail equarely on the head and driven it
home