Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-01-26

Federation convention was called 1
| order by the president, Mrs. Caroline
Burpce of lloulton at O'Clock, Thurs
DAY, in the auditorium of the Congre
gatiunal church. The day was crisj
and enjoyable from an outside point o
| view AID, To those gathered within in,
Walls of the church, it was an idea
| day an ideal gathering in Il consenia
atmosphere and everybody felt tn,
benefit OF the best all-round adapted
conditions which could have beer
Imagined.
y vast amount of work, all Of which
was imperative, even if MANY of the
delegates We're obliged TO miss thei.
trains, confronted the members whel
the meeting was called to order by the
president.
The first item of the program WAS the
election Of a nominating committee
1t was then voted to leave this re-
sponslbility to tn" executive board af-
ter which the latter reported us fol-
lcWs Mrs. Alice Bradbury. Dexter,
chairman: Mrs. Helen 5. Atwood Au-
burn: Mrs. Ellen Snow. Bangor; Mrs
Emily Pond, Prcsquc Isle; Mrs. Eaton
ShoWhrGan.
The records were then read by the
recording secretary, Mrs. Rose G.
Johnson. Gnrham. after which the con-
v"ntiOn proceeded to elect the dele
gates to the biennial convention to be
held at st. Paul, May 31-Junc I.
The delegates were elected in the fol-
lowing order:
Delegates: The president, Mrs. Eur
pee. was recognized as proper dele
gate by reason of her Office. The
others arc: Mrs. Armstrong, Lewiston;
Mr.. David Morton, Rocl>land: Mrs. Ii.
NJ. Esterbr""k. Orono; Miss Helen
Pratt. Fairfield: Mrs. f. l.. Marsh.
WatrrNillc: Mrs. i. :. Head. Portland:
Mrs. y. s. Hunt. Auburn; Mrs. ID. w.
wood Norridgcwock; Mrs. !. c. Niics.
SkoWheGan.
TIL" al:ernatcs We're: Mrs. Russell
Norrid=cwock: Mrs. Frank Briggs, Au-
burn: AIRS. Holmes. Bar Harbor: Miss
Lucia Conner, Fairfield: Mrs. MosIcy.
Portland; Miss Helen Sewall. So. Bcr-
Wic',; Mrs. G. e. Parker, Winthrop;
Miss Elizabeth X. Hobbs. North Ber-
wick: Miss Amanda Wilson, Bangor;
Mrs. Ellen VI. Cinugh. Dexter; Mrs.
john Griffith. SkoWhcCln.
II was voted that. if any vacancy
should occur in the list by reason Of
tic inability of any of the delegates to
attend. which could not be supplied by
tic alternatcS, the executive com
mittce bv authorized to fill such va
cancieS.
The ladies were then entertained by
a valuable PAPER given by Mrs. Anna
Sargent Hunt on civil Service Re
form. Tho reading of this paper was
followed by discussion of some
length and much animation. Mrs
Hun; spoke as follows:
When | consented to prepare Il I0-mir-
ute paper on this important subject I
did not realize what Il grave problem il
would he in the presence of so much ac-
cumulatcd evidence in the bcwillcrinc;
i1ass of literature I hal at nv command
The treasures Of Auburn public library.
the addresses of eminent persons who
had served as heads of the United States
civil service commission. and Of thought
full men and women in the ranks Of de-
voices to the principles of right. rcport;
of State auXili"rics and Federation COM
mittecs. prize essays. etc. a 10-nour pn-
per would have been much more easily
and satisfactorily prepared.
At the most l can only touch the fringo;
Of tho theme and ask and answer Il few
questions. rs follows:
/. What WAS the condition Of the conn
try that made Imperative the work Of
civil service reform?
.. What is the scope Of the work?
3. What are some Of tho agencies en-
ployc1 fer its advancement?
1. Why should women DC enlisted in it,;
support?
;. What are come Of the lines Of their
cndcavor?
F'o- tho first 10 years in the hieiary of
orr country there was little sign in tn"
sky of our national horizon of the black
ness which should afterwards appear
The spoilG system was introduced into
American politics ly Aaron Eurr. Tar
ton chooses to call his m1Xims the Bur
rian Cot;c." That it was most corrupt
tie following sentences give evidence:
politics is a game, business. and the
prizcs arc the contracts. the political as
scssrncnts. the Offices The game must
be SO played, the business 50 conducted
as TO pay the leaders aud the party work
ers' "Fidelity to party is the only virtue
of tho politician. On" sin only IS Impar-
donable. boltinG' The people at cleo
tons are to be managed by the same
rules of discipline as an army. A few
leaders ere to think for the masses. and
these are to obey implicitly and to move
only at the word of command"
President Jackson, under the counsel Of
Van Burcn. a follower of Burr. adopted
the New York spOils system and so fed
cral politics became poisoned like those
of New York state and city. The sweep
ing changes and dismissals from service
of competent officials and the filling of
their places by partisans of the admins
tration attracted the attention Of hon
orable men and caused much agitation
and committees of investigations
The. story of the severe throes through
which our country passed in its struggles
into the light would be a long one Mary.
A President including our own noble
Roosevelt, has urged upon Congress thu
necessity of reform in the civil service.