The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-06-01

tion; Minnesota, altho young in the
work, has twenty clubs interested, and
Massachusetts ffty-seven. Thru the
Massachusetts auxiliary, the club offers
the use Of beautiful medal, made I'M
der the direction Of st. Gaudens, to any
club or federation desiring to arrange
the study of the merit system.
Every man, woman and child is to be
thoroly imbued with the idea that pub.
lie office is public trust, and the civil
service reform committee must plan a
campaign Of education Already hum
dreds Of meetings have been held, thou
schools, colleges and clubs, medals and
prizes have been awarded and literature
placed in public libraries.
After education will come lnvestl-
CATION. This work of investigation,
says the chairman in her report, has
led to more far-reaching results, The
Illinois committee has put all Its
strength into securing state merit law
which provides for the appointment. Of
buttons according to the merit system;
The manner in which the Illinois civil
service commission has conducted ex-
aminations for some Of these positions
is striking illustration Of the efficient
administration of civil service law,
Inc vermont committee ues ACo pA"i1s
we'll made for carrying. on an exceed
ingly active campaign in behalf of a
state merit law which has been adopt
ed as the main feature Of the work OF
the Vermont federation for two years.
The Ohio committee has commenced
an investigation into all state instltu
tions where children are found. Upo1
has made the girls industrial schoo
its special charge and thru it's efforts al
appropriation Of $4,000 has been Sc
cured from the state.
The need and value Of such work al
this has been clearly shown in report
from individual clubs. Let me quot!
from one in Kansas City. Mo-:
mittee's doings about the county poo
farm. This committee persisted in Gle
handing changes for the better, unit
the daily papers took the matter up, an!
article after article came out commend
ing them for the stand taken. =, IN
county Judges, who had persistently 1g
nored the matter, fell into line, and al
that was asked and more, was gran55e e,
AS consequence, everyone CONSIDER
that we have done a most valuable sserv
ice. The committee upon inyest1ga
tion found that a law provided for.
board of visitors for eleemosynary IN
situations, upon the application of fl
teen or twenty taxpayers, uence IAo
framed petition to that effect and 20
it signed by the requisite number an
presented it to the court. They aske
them to send in d list Of names, OF me
and women. and as a consequence, tn
morning paper announces the appoint
ment Of the board. Two members
this board are women ~" .-.:,. ..
Mrs. Sarah Plat Decker was one
the principal speakers at the civil serN
ice reform conference yesterday afte1
. noon. Mrs. Decker spoke Of the 4urs
ent need Of change for the better
state institutions. Good women on tn
state boards and plenty of them is Whs
, will produce this change. for, IN Mr
Decker's opinion, the state INSTITUTION
;; and their management belong 19st. !:
; much to the women as to their HUSBAND
and fathers. >,
"The trouble with civil service r.
form is that it is seldom, presented i
an Interesting Manner she said . Al
l peal to the humane side, touch the hea7
strings with facts you know to be, tru
and You will find that the interest wi
take care Of itself. We cannot hope
reform the national civil service, attn
j. President Roosevelt is making HEROIC 9
:, forts along that line, but we can retor7
: our state institutions.