The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-07
ABOUT
OUR GOVERNMENT
Criticism on Lack of Instruction
in Schools and Colleges on
Public Affairs.

inefficient Administrative on costs TOO
much. and this country is getting less
and less money TO throw away every
year as population increases and re-
sources are more and more tapped,
and If we are to have better public
service, Il must be not only because
our best men are willing to give them
selves TO such work. but they must be
properly trained for it." declared Pro-
fessor William NJ Hunley. Of the chair
of political science in the UniversiE Of
Virginia. in the second of its extern
sion lectures last night at the John
Marshall HI 9Th School He outlined the
new profession of public admintstra-
ton which is calling 20 the young men
and women of the country who desire
10 devote their lives to the science OF
good government. students don't
dare squirt at microbe with less than
three years graduate biology. ne
pointed out, yet we turn people loose
on the social fabric with no other doc
torate than a kind heart"
Severely criticizing the scant space
given TO the study of government IN
the schools and colleges, Professor
Hunley said that there Is an aston
ishingly prevalent ignorance or our
government in it's simplest processes
among the students Of America. A
test at a. leading Western college dis
closed that the meaning Of majority
plurality. pure democracy. grand jury.
statute law. and many other politicai
terms. was unknown 10 the great ma
jority Of applicants for admission.
Asked as TO how Senators are chosen.
machine put. up a safe man. has him
apparently Endorsed by the voters. and
then the various candidates are voted
upon by the voters OF the congressional
district. after a lurij campaign of red
fire. beer and promises. They serve for
rvo years, must be male citizens.
though the Constitution says nothing
about sex and at least twenty i've
years OF age. They get. besides fees
from railroads and corporations. $4,000
from the United states Treasury An
other student answered the same dues-
ton a Senator must be A resident
Of the State which elects him and an
upright citizen" Then the same stu
den+ scratched out upright citizen
and wrote instead: ''he must be OF
sound mind Three times as much
time is devoted to Latin as 70 the
study ~ government, said Professor
Hunley
Teach Young People.
"of what avail will Il be 20 put INTO
The hands OF the voters even more
povSer than they have now and 20 add
to the great responsibilities which now
resi- upon the shoulders IF citizens II
we do not teach the youth Of the land
the nature 81 the institutions they viii
he called upon 70 consider through thF
ballot and do not instin into their
minds proper respect for law and
constitutional government he asked.
adding that ~ the number Of ques-
lions submitted 70 popular determine
ton IS 70 be increased through the iui-
.ia,ive. referendum and recall. ~ Is
the duty % the schools to see 10 II
that the future voters shall know
something about the government whose
existence may be dependent upon their
Judgment
civ government should he conducted
uuon the principles Of sound business
sid Professor Hunley. asserting tha'
the OPPORTUNITIES for efficient and ~ell
trained men in public administration
a-e increasing every lay and that the
nov profession should he more gen
orally followed.