Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-11-12
Political Appointments

L AACT reason for the current excitement
- over charges that certain city employees
were menaced by city officials because they
refused to vote right" i'm the recent cleo
ton is difficult to place. If coercion was at
tempted, IT very wrong and the accused
persons, II as innocent as they say they are
are properly indignant but why all this
marvelng and wondering?
Everybody in Richmond knows that mu-
nicipal job holders. save in rare instances
are not selected strictly on merit and that
the controlling influence IN their appointment
is political. Assuming reasonable com
potency, man gets place because OF polti-
ca support, already conferred or confidently
expected, or else because some one with In
huence demands recognition. The appointce
understands this quite we'll as any one
else--perhaps better-and it is difficult to
perceive any additional immortality in expect
ing him. or even in requiring him, to live up
to the terms OF his compact.
The law. ii is true erects different
standard but the law does not recognize or
contemplate the antecedent obligation III
man takes position on the distinct under
standing, either expressed or implied, that he
VIII vote as he is told. good deal of moral
hair-spitting is necessary to justify his dis
regard of that agreement. Transferring CON
sderation to the other party to the contract
there seems little choice morally b, syeen
threatening a recalctrant with the loss of
MS position and FORGETTING that position. after
the fact hut without any preliminary threat
The situation inspires public Indignation
but that indignation should be directed
against existing methods of appoint ment and
not against those methods inevitable out.
groupings. 1t ought to be shameful to an
point water or gas inspector or street
cleaner because of the way he has voted or
VIII vote. In particular election. Some day
1t VIII be shameful to make an appointment
on that basis. Men will he chosen to mu-
nicipal Office. from the highest to the lowest,
because they can do the work required At
tainment or that system, in Its full beauty
and flower. may be job for the millennium.
but the ideal is possible OF approach even to-
day. AT least can shift the emphasis
from politics to efficiency.
II Mr. airschberg and Mr.. Cohn desire a
grand jury investigation, We hope they will
get one, and that the result will be every
thing their hearts could wish. Substantially.
however, the grand jury's findings will not
afect the situation in which the people of
Richmond are interested, which goes deeper
IMAM an individuals possible misconduct
Pohtlcal appointments are at the very root
OF the failure of municipal government i'm
this country, but whether such appointees
carry out or disregard their purely political
obligations has small influence on the happi-
ness and prosperity of the community II is
what these men do officials, or clerks or
iaporers-not what they do as voters-that
shows in the city's balance sheet If the
streets arc paved and kept clean if garbage
is collected, good water supplied safety. or
der and health assured and public funds CON
served, nobody would care greatly whether
the cltyS employees honor, reverence and
oDey thclr sponsors or hang these patriots
from the nearest lamp post