The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-06-03
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE

New Haven. Conn. June 1, 1907.
 To Editor of the Journal and Courieri
 Dear sir: In this mornings issue of your paper there is a long article head ed Teachers Oppose the Merit Sys- tenn" supposedly prepared by the Tea chers' league Although there is a great deal of ignorance in this state, as yet, as to the real meaning of the term Merit system" personally doubt the authenticity of the article. do not believe there is any teacher in our schools who is so ignorant that she does not know that the difficulties com plained of (and justly complained of) are caused by disregard to the merit system.
 The article was written, if do not mistake the earmarks, by a spells sys- tenn advocate who Is trying to discredit system which has for it's sole aim the advancement of teachers and other civil employees regardless of political pull. To the merit system is ascribed the evils caused by It's opponents.
 In the third paragraph "favcritisn" is charged. This would be impossible | if the merit system were in fact in con- trol. Tn the next paragraph the writer says:
 Few people, it seems, outside the actual teaching force, are aware of the extent to which injustice and abuse of official power have hidden themselves under the cloak of this fair name of merit We hasten to add, however, that not all the injustice, nor all the abuse of official power has been due to conscious disregard of the right. It is the system itself rather than the mo- tive of those who have tried to apply 1t. with which the teachers quarrel"
 The reason that tho merit system is opposed by so-called practical politi- clans, is that it prevents, when well en- forced. and flinders at other times, the exercise of injustice and abuse of of- ficlal power" How can an official do injustice, or abuse of his power, # he is forced q mean really forced, not merely ordered to do 1t by law which is not enforced) to appoint that one person, and that one only who Is proved to be best fitted for the work? If the merit sys- tenn were strictly enforced, that is what would happen. What the writer of your article really complains of, is the prac- tlse of the spells system under the cloak of the merit system. When thugs of New York dress themselves In police mems uniforms in order to commit rob- herv in safety, they do not make po- ,licemen of themselves in fact and nobody visits their sins on the honest and legitimate force, When a sneaking spollsman is afraid to show his true eolors, makes appointments for political or grating purposes, and then throws q bluff that he is following the merit system, some people will accept his word for 1t and say that the merit sys- tenn ought to be abolished. What they mean is that the sneaking spoilsman ought to be punished as the sneak thief lis In New York, in spite of his false colors.
 Do need to say more to prove that the teachers quarrel is with the mo- tive of those who have tried to misap- ply t." and not with the system It. self?" It is not any wonder, if the fact is as 1t is related, that the schools have become gangrened with envy and jealousy" When appointments are made for pull" whether political or of that priceless female art of smiling at the right time" the merit system is not being applied any more than bank cashier Is applying common honesty when he speculates with the banks funds for his own private gain. Every appointment made by pull is an ideal application of the fundamental princi- pie of the spells system, ITO the victors Chose having power by smiles or other wiles) belong the spells"
 If the "executive committee of the New Haven Teachers league" will write their own documents instead of taking item as they are written for them, they will be less likely to make such obvious errors in the future as they have made in this case.
 Their statement will not mislead any one who reads It carefully. It shows on its face what 1t Is that the teachers are complaining of, It is regrettable, however, that many will read it hastily at It's headline value and will be there- by misled,
 Very truly yours
 CHARLES c. MORRIS.