New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-02
Mayor Mitchel's Ideals
Personal Testimony About the Way
He Picked Aids
To the Editor OF The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: At this time. when number OF
voters. influenced apparently by party af-
hlation. seem disposed TO forget the value
of non-partsan municipal government, 1t
seems proper for ono who has had excep-
tonal opportunities for observation to eX-
plain Just how non-partisan administration
has actually worked in New York.
Shortly after his election to the Mayoralty
Mr. Mitchell did me the honor to invite me to
accept the position OF Commissioner OF
Health. The question whether this choice
was wise one or not need not here concern
as. What is significant is that had taken
no public part in municipal politics, and that
the Mayor had no means OF knowing, did
not know and did not ask whether had or
had not voted for him. Mr.. Mitchell made
j. plain that his invitation was based wholly
on his estimate Of my record in the field OF
medical administration.
In the negotiations that followed two
things are worthy of record. The hrst IS
this: Mr. Mitchell knew that | had many
professional obligations; he therefore sara
that if desired to enter the Department OF
Health ] must first free myself from All
private professional engagements and must
come prepared 20 devote my whole time ana
strength TO the service of the city. Any
body who knows the previous record OF the
Department of Health Il am here referring
10 its whole system Of administration and
not to any individually realizes what
radical step this was, and to what an extent
the adoption of the new policy was bound 10
increase municipal efficiency.
The second point is this: | was wholly un-
acquainted at the time with municipal poll
tics and was nearly a total stranger to Mr..
Mitchell; but having been reared in New YORK
City at a time when Tammany Hall was gen
orally in control of the city's affairs, doubt
ed whether it was worth while to abandon
lucrative and congenial professional career,
even temporarily, for a public Office which,
however great theoretically its opportunities
for public service, might nevertheless be so
affected by politics as TO rob 1T of all inde-
pendencc and vrlity ! was not willing to
be Commissioner OF Health unless assured
that would be free to develop the depart
ment in accordance with what believed to be
the best interests Of the city and without re-
gard TO the interests OF any politician or OF
any political machine. | was not willing
even to be Influenced by the personal political
interests Of the Mayor. | therefore told Mr..
Mitchell that would consider his offer only
on the condition that so long as he and held
Office together | would be permitted to con-
duct the department on strictly non partisan
lines and with the single aim of rendering
service to the city To this the Mayor agreed,
and he kept his word.
1t was a privilege TO hold public Office un-
der such conditions. As citizen OF New
York ! shall always be grateful TO Mayor
Mitchell. not because he appointed me TO an
office which | occupied at great personal IN
convenience for nearly two years, but because
his upright official conduct reflects the high
est civic ideals and has caused the entire
country to point with pride to the example
which New York City presents Of honest, non
partisan municipal government.
s. :. GOLDWATER, VI. ID.
New York. Sept. p, 1917.