Omaha daily bee., 1906-07-22
POLITICS IS A POOR TRADE
A FOrmsr Mayor Bays So, and he Has Had
Much Experience.
FEW ADVANTAGES FOR YOUNG MEN
Feeling of Insecurity About Public
Jobs and Chances Of Advance
ment Not Good-RanEe of
Government Salaries.

Carter II. Harrison held the once OF
mayor OF Chicago for four terms, retiring
year ago. Looking back over his ex-
perience as general manager OF the munic-
ipality and boss Of the pie counter. he is
convinced that politics is a poor business,
offering little to tempt the ambitions OF
young men. His views, expressed In the
Chicago Tribune. follow:
What are the principal advantages Of
fered to tile young nun in public service
such service being either an appolntive
ONCE or an elective one, but not in a cleri-
cal capacity7
Political or public service appointments
usually. II accompanied with a salary, are
given to men who have interested them
selves in practical politics, but rarely to
young men. Such appointments may be for
term of from two to four years, or more.
They give a man an opportunity for ac-
quaintance. which may or may not be val
liable, depending upon the use to which he
puts 1t. Some of these positions may give
to young man a comparatively easy Job"
at pretty good salary. II this is an ad-
vantage he has IL. AS an opportunity for
Judging human nature many Of these posi-
tions afford splendid opportunities.
Elective Offices as q rule are not thrust
now upon Cincnnatuses summoned from
the plows. The average man elected to
public service goes after It, horse, foot,
apd Dragons and enlsts all of his friends
In his behalf. Elective or appontive office
is, of course, sometimes a stepping stone
to higher, official positions. Men have gone
from the office Of constable to that of gov
ernor. Everything depends upon the man
himself and there are no cook book recipes
I,.g,F 81
men and advanced others. Courage, hon
esty, faithfulness to duty--in word, char
acter-will inevitably tell, whether with
advantages or disadvantages.
Feeling of Insecurity About Job.
Opportunities for promotion to young
men in appontive public positions may
result from good work, influence, caprice.
or any other influence, the same as in
private business.
What are the principal disadvantages
to the young man in public service?
The principal disadvantage to the
young man in public service is the precac-
iousness of his tenure of Office He must
| be ready to fold his tents like the Arab
when new administration steps in. Civil
service has, of course, made political stu
atoms more stable OF late years, but civil
service is not omnipotent The average
man, holding a political position. feels
when a new administration comes in that
1.-The gobblins'll get him eff he don't
watch out" This feeling of insecurity is
liable to have a disquieting effect upon
his work. Then, too, whether appointed or
elected, he must spend considerable money
| and time in assisting the political admin
| istration which placed him In power. He
| is bound to do this or be ungrateful. The
result is that the man who honestly saves
money in political Job is a wonder.
! Chances for Advancement Not Good.
AS for leisure. that word is a stranger
| to his vocabulary. The opportunities for
advancement are not better than in pri-
vate business. If as good. If young
man is fond of seeing his name in the
papers, he is liable to have that feeling
gratiied more often If he is in public
service than he would in private business.
| This may be claimed as on6 of the doubt
full advantages, appealing more to youth
| than to the CONCEALED wisdom of middle
| or old age.
For the work done in public service. the
criticism, the anxieties, responsibilities and
even great triumphs achieved, the legiti-
mate pecuniary results are the poorest in
any line of business on earth. II is almost
impossible to combine business and politics
successfully. II politics interferes with a
young mans business, the only way to be
successful politically is for him to give up
his business At the same time politics is
an exceedingly uncertain business.
Every Man should he a Politician.
1t is the duty of every man, young and
old, to take an interest in politics, outside
of any question of preferment. The only
way in which good government can be OBJ
tanned is by citizens of all classes taking
an active interest in seeing that good pr!n-
ciples and measures are upheld and honest
officials elected to uphold those principles.
The fact that many reforms have been in
augurated and brought 10 a successful con-
cluson has been due. in great measure, to
disinterested efforts of the good citizenship
of the community enlisted without any
hope of pecuniary reward, but solely from
patriotic motives. The man who merely
votes party ticket. right or wrong, Is a
poor specimen of an American. He owes
1t to himself to his family, to his COM
munty and to his country to interest him
self actively in practical politics, and to
do everything in his power to improve the
condition Of things from political stand
point.
Salaries Paid by Government.
A volume larger than good sized book
would be necessary to contain complete
schedule OF the salaries and wages paid tC
United States government officials and EN-.
ployes. A general table is presented, here.
with. Unless otherwise stated. the hsures
given are the amounts received for a year
OF service:
President of the United States. ...... $50, 90
Private secretary to president......... 500
? Assistant secretary to president. ..... 500
, Clerks TO president ............S 900 TO 2bI
Messengers to president.....,.,.. 1900 TO Lee
Doorkcepers to presldent.........S $500 to 1,.0
Members of presidents cabinet
( Secretary OF state, secretary Uf war,
| SANs-'sss oVp
Assistant secretaries .................... 40
Ghlefs OF fundamentally 70 zoo
[ Messengers ........,,............,S $3.50 to 10
Ambassadors and ENJOYS extra
, .sesVyy W AlFOV
: Secretaries of legations........N,5O0 to 2,65
Sonsuls general ..........--............-. b,OO
SoHsuls st-fuuJ 10 o'up
Commercial agents. No stated salaries, fee