The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-22
GOVERNOR HUGHES
 0N CIVIL SERVICE Demonstration Setting Forth Great Patriotic Cause ADVOCATES THE SYSTEM Governor of New York Makes Notable Extemporary Address Before
 Service Reform League
 in Buffalo.
ADVOCATES THE SYSTEM

From an editorial in the January Century.
 Lincoln thought much of the math- ematical demonstration of his ideas. This was the keynote of his style. though it had other qualities. Governor Hughes. in brief extemporary address made in Buffalo at recent meeting of the Ma tional Civil Service Reform league, illus trated MT. Lncoln's method of demon stratlon. In clear, concise and direct language he demonstrated the advantages of civil service reform; that is, of the merit system as opposed to the spells system.
 The governor had just been visiting several institutions under the care of the state. and he regarded 1t as appropriate that the day should be closed with some remarks on civil service reform. In the course of these remarks he said:
 Now we are & government of laws and not of men, and most important is it that we should never lose sight of that fact. The government depends upon principle, upon the will of the people as expressed in the fundamental law and in legislation enacted according to popu- ldI QcSlIc, dIlQ QUcS DOl uSpeHQ upOH tllc wish or caprice of individuals. But In another and equally important sense we have a government of men and we will have no government better than the men who administer it.
 Fundamentally, we need two things: First, the untrammeled expression of the people in the choice of their officers who e.drt let ft, ohn nff hoif lac islators who make their laws.
 We want no limit placed upon legiti- mate political activity. There is vast amount of earnest political endeavor, of honest effort to achieve what is right in the world of politics. We want more and not less of 1t. But we want no perversion of our party or political ma way of that freedom of choice by which the people can get the men they want and the laws they want.
 And then the second thing is efficiency the highest degree of efficiency in the management of the business of the state.
 ''If you have those two things-untram- meled expression of the popular will, through necessary organization and politl- cal machinery, of course, but created and active for the purpose of expressing and not preventing the expression of the popular will, and on the other hand, rf- ficiency according to approved standards, recognized In the world of business, in the management of public concerns-then you have true democratic government.
 '"rhe object of civil service reform Is not to provide theorists with pet idea and an opportunity to maintain a propa. ganda of interests to limited few. The object Is not to hamper any legitimate political work: not to protect a class of people who happen to be engaged in the state service. The object is just one and that Is to have the business of the state conducted as well as it can be con- ducted."
 Governor Hughes continued his demon stration-declaring that capacity, disin- terestedness and accountability must be secured in public appointees; and that while he does not attach undue impor- tance to examination papers. the compet- itive system is the best yet devised for the selection of public servants. wherever such examination Is practicable. T be- lieve in that" he said, q thoroughly in- dorse it; and I hope to see it extended throughout the states of the union' Inci- dentally the governor remarked, putting an old truth in new form that there may be a severer test of character in the room where. unobserved, a paid official of the government performs the work for which he gets his stipend than in the rush. hurrah and enthusiasm of the charge upon the field of battle'
 No wonder that the men and women who understand the fundamental value of the merit system in bringing about and maintaining good government in city state and nation feel that another gov. ernor of New York has set far forward the standard of a great patriotic cause.