The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-08

PhMo~ophlc Argument Against Municipal
Ownsrshlp.

EAAhlHNIhtutN ANIuAANNhN N0@
OwnsrshIp.
To TINE ENRON on THE sUN-Str: The letter
OF your correspondent PRO Bono Publico-
In your issue Of August 10 n an acceptable
approach toward a knowledge OF the source
Of municipal graft. To understand q disease
IL the 1rst step toward its cure. but Il n not
the cure itself. The problem stu remains
with all It's original complexity: How 70 pre-
vent the audaclous seizure Of the leadership
Of municipal enterprise by the takers whose
main equipment IL Adamantlne cheek.
This is no new problem-it IL older nan
the American colonies: and one MAJ be par
dOned for hesitatinG to accept the happy
optimism Of the modern municipal wor-
shipper a. the solution OF II.
II IL far from my wish to bellttle or asperse
the faithful and efficient. as well as intelligent,
service Of many public employees. Many
such I am pleased TO know. and their COM
seriousness that they are scarcely more than
the capable instruments by which municipal
~Rrafters are enabled to hold down highly
paid positions which they dishonesty oc-
cupy 10 not the least painful OF the ria OF
their employment. But the fact that such
men can be crowded into corners. I'm which
they must serve with such spirit Of ~atrophied
manhood as may survive their environment
without daring TO proclaim the truth 70 q
hopeful world except under a nom De plxrrs.
Ls Itself discouraRing TO q hasty acceptance
OF the view that municipal ownership and
service 10 the coming panacea Tor all our SOCIAL
The Individual employer, Notwithstanding
the power Of selection and dlscharses nnds
trance Of strikers into his employment. The
Is hedsed about with defences against his
With : graft wage three or four times that q
the expert who does his work. Ia intrenched
IN his :ineSUre bs c % ths RSGwer OF a col
ing but %'g gn de fact. and i stands Is .
p pss6Iie s-& no SSS RsSp's w ffShnfi l. ;aHi'J resarasd
az an important part Of the spells 81 political
victory; Civil service means Teni DST y =
With S Concrete rreS" eIsmpies did space permit.
While the most .sanEulne OF conservatives
smsrtinS under the lashes Of either indi-
impulse to try the prescription Of the mum.
Of the examples Of municipal employment
with which the past is rife n quite enc 81
rather than open a Pandora's box Of other
lila. which once set free may never again be
Il is Just now the fashion to berate. the
PanaRement Of the subway; yyet, We have
.ths' ci ES 9 ST.s. " BACK SS!PH %as va Rsnf Srisis5 b 9,
intrust the expert work Of its management
While cheerfuiiy owning the truth OF your
correspondents remarks, Il IL respectfully
submitted that we are am SrOpips in the
graft. one that would make an extension
Of municipal employment greatly preferable
70 m which the OF power eTr 20 promptly My" siiminats
the unit, and the unfaithful has not been
with the man OF average character T. II
not still necessary TO keep vigorously alive
the impulse, TO render good service BY the
1 onf.Ids tbe ' basa v q wp pGweG Of % em Taso yns Z In
the essential discipline Of life under. which
m ms ce to Be 20 H IHtr pSEsd az wIt I"Y res sS1 4sIH%;
Furthermore. since the development OF char
acter : the chief end Of life Is Il well to exempt tempt
So s1 S Of .: a. fSR n h a%f 81 81 other OF our H'e' are
processes by which life and health are main
tanned. Elimination !s Just as important In
the social. industrial and political worlds,
is foredOoned 70 failure. It's natural course
L. In the direction OF disease. distress and
In TsI the pIans of m NUM- ewnersSipperss
What we all no doubt desire n such social
Improvement as will nable the honest and
which the shlrker and CRATER may be thrust
out upon the commons with the goats.
But need we go outside 81 voluntary 1850
OF the world thus far has been based on that
universal principle. II IL one which ts tytne
men together with hooks Of steel. Every
where. the world over. where two or three
are gathered together. IL " instantly opera
tive. II throbs with conscious life In every
note OF the magic words: The society OF
united workers In city and country; anc
II the advocates Of the amortization Of vol
nntary Individual and collective effort car
ind an inspiration in. the public servicinl
Of al the worlds industries, equal 70 that
counter il without 3 momCnt's delay.
GEoRGE W. D~ITHRID0B.
Y~ENcFnoRA. Mexico. Au gust 81.