The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1907-10-25
Federation Clubs in Convention.
Continued from Page one)

the names of small group of appli-
cants, select from them one, and
test him in practical work for six
months. This is pure case of "sur-
vival of the fittest.'
The third point of view is the
moral movement in politics. 1t is
just because it is moral movement
that it has stirred the people and
is gaining strength every day.
If we are going to make any pro-
gress We must eliminate the Boss
and what the boss stands for in poll
tics. / shall not discuss politics it
is against our constitution. | am
discussing a moral question and it is
high time Idaho should take stand
and have Civil Service laws govern
ing more of it's offices. What can
effect a change? Nothing but pub
lie opinion and what is public opin-
ion? Why, your opinion and mine,
hId lllC pei ooll liCAI W you. iLSI uo
put our collective thought upon this
and formulate something for our
next legislature to approve. What
are some of the offices and positions
that might come under Civil Service.
The Board of Dentistry. The Medi-
cal Board. Our Correctional and
Reformatory Institutions known as
the Penitentiary and Reform School,
Our Asylum for the Insane. Our
schools and state University are
some of them and we might add to
those mentioned the Office of super
intendents of public instruction. The
organization of our public education
al system has lent itself readily to
the spoils system. The states govern
their own educational affairs in their
own way, and the choice of state
superintendent of public instruction.
Politics rather than merit is so Of
ten considered. Before preparing
this paper I consulted with a number
of officials in our state and those
holding positions counted as spoils
and without exception they express
ed regret that we had not more of
Civil Service controlling such Offices
and positions of trust.
| quote from one letter received
after long experience in political
matters and in offices. have learn
ed that the most embarrassing and
comprising thing that occurs to a
politician Is endorsing this that and
the other thing, or making promis-
es to his friends. If the matter of
patronage could be removed it would
relieve our officers of embarrassing
conditions. Civil Service would tend
to purify politics. and mean better
citizenship. | quote from another in
regard to our Insane Asylum, The
growth of knowledge concerning the
entricacies of abnormal mental
phenomena Is so very slow under the
most favorable conditions and the
difficulties of properly treating and
caring for the insane are so great
tina. all departments of govern
ment this one should have the bene-
fit of the best method of selecting
and retaining its employees. That
of all civil service, the best asylum
must be one of growth and requires
| Without civil serviceditiotanshrdlul
order and permanency of plan.
Without Civil service the chaos of
constant change must introduce dis
order and retard orderly growth
and squander not little of the peo-
pies money in fruitless experiment
tation Employees who enter and re-
main in asylum service through ia
vor of personal friendship, party
and faction must necessarily look to
such sources rather than merit for
an employe be expected to look to
such influence and merit too? If so,
the answers may be extended to say
ing that competant, earnest men and
women, who seek service will do
nothing of the kind and will refuse
to enter or remain in the service on
such terms unless the pay be far be-
yond what the servince will bring
in other departments of humane ac-
tivity. The Civil Service method
invites all who would enter the pub
lie service to do so in the most direct
and honorable way, upon their mer-
its. 1t stimulates and develops the
best in him. The merit system dig
nifies and ennobles the public service
1t attracts the best men and women
1t gives to the public the best SER
vice for the best expenditure of the