The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1912-06-01
Saturday, June I, 1912.
CHANGES NOT BENEFICIAL.

John N. Thomas, utters an opinion
so much in line with what we think
and have so expressed in the past,
that we cannot forbear quoting it.
In his recommendations for the good
Of the institution, DR.. Thomas says:
With or without a reason there
for, it is notorious fact that every
four years when there is a change in
the state administration in, this state,
'OffiCe7seekers and their political
friends begin an. agitation for the re-
mOVal of the perintendentS Of the
hospitals for insane with the result
that management of these institutions
is seriously handicapped with COrse-
quent loss to the state and unneCeS-
sary injustice to- the patients in the
hospitals for insane. Changes in the
executive head. of these Institutions
usually mean change in the official
and subordinate help. ALL this is
wrong and a great injustice done in
most cases tC trained and worthy
people. In my opinion, it cannot be
too greatly condemned. If a superin-
tendent is worthy, he should have his
position as long as he fulfi!s the du-
ties required. If he is unworthy, or
persona non grata to the appOintive
power, he should be replaced. No one
in the least familiar with the work
on such institutions will deny the
fact that political influence is most
harmfuA in their management. To
avoid such, l recommend to the law
makers of the General Assembly toI
enact a law forever divOrcing the
charitable institutions of the state
from the baneful influence of poll
tics. Officers and employees of such
institutions should not be allowed to
taka part in politics beyond their con-
stitutiOnal right to cast their ballots
and it should constitute removable
offense for them to engages in poll
tics other than to vote. When for
any reason al vacancy among the Of !
ficers occurs, whether by death, res
fgnatiOn oNremoVal for cause, the ap-I
pOintment should always be filled byI
selecting for the position one Of the
trained subordinate officers, if com
petent, as having had the necessary
practical experience. Mo- man should
be eligible for appointment to the
SUPPLEMENTARY of an insane hos
pital, who has had less than three
years of practical experience in han
ding, caring for, and treating the
insane. And further the system of
management at all state hospitals for
insane should be one calculated toI
induce young medical officers Who'll
Wishlto pursue this line. AS an in
centiVe, their salaries should be grad |
ed on length of service. They should
be allowed Cimarry and be provided
with the proper quarters for comfort
and convenience Such a system
would be a stimulus and encourage
ment for mem to enter and remain
in such institutions and the State and
thG inmates of the hospitals would be |
better off in receiving the. services
of trained officials"
No one but a mind affected by po- |
litical or ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS but will
agree that DR.. Thomas takes the cor.
rect view of this matter, irrespective
OF his own Interests in the circum-
stances. We have always held that
in all institutions whose proper df-
rection requires professional or tech
nical skill and experience that their
officers should not be subjected to
the fortunes of politics, but be bas-
ed upon good service only. And this
without exception, as we do not agree
with DR.. Thomas in his implication
that being persona non grata to the
governor is sufficient cause even if
that official is ex-officio the head of
the directorate of all state institu-
tons. Governors must not hold any
one non grata in such circumstances.
Merit alone must rule
1t will not be denied that making
our insane asylums the objects of po-
litical reward has been the greatest
to their efficiency: impart-
ing to their officials an unsettled
feeling, a dependence upon political
favor that it has taken only the
strongest convictions of duty to coun !
teTbalance. And this is but one of
The evils. Short service is but an ap' ;
hnticeship in the study of the care