Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-23
,LAFEAN AND AMBLER
PRODUCTS OF 1.-THE SYSTEM


The Theory That Public office Exists for
the Benefit Of the Office Holders Is the
Curse Of American Government
TT Is not pleasant for self-respecting
Pennsylvanans to contemplate the
spectacle of the former state banking
commissioner and the former state in
surance commits sioner under arrest
charged with offenses in Office.
The two former officials headed the
great departments created for the pro-
lection of the public in its relation with
the banks and the insurance companies
doing business in the state. Their duty
was TO see that both the insurance com
panies and banks were solvent. Thcu
functions were fiduciary and not political.
They were the trustees of the people.
But why was Daniel f. Lafean ap-
pointed banking commissioner?
His entrance into that Office was not so
many years ago that the history of the
appointment is forgotten. William II.
Smith had held the office Of commissioner
of banking for many years. He was
capable official, familiar with the banking
laws and possessed of a fine sense Of re-
sponsbility to the public. He was asked
to permit the politicians to use the pa
tronage of his department to reward po-
Itical workers. He refused TO make
great business office a part of political
machine He was asked to resign. The
L., 6 81, - g
wrote to the Governor protesting against
any change in the banking department..
But Smith had to get out.
Then Daniel f. Lafean was appointed,
and under his regime the North Penn
Bank was looted. Under his regime the
insolvency of the bank was reported in
Harrisburg. And under his regime the
bank was allowed to continue to do busi
ness, taking the deposits Of the unsus-
pecting public and making way with their
money by devious devices not yet fully
tracked out.
And why was Charles A. Amber made
insurance commissioner?
Was it because he knew anything
about the insurance business? Of course
not Under the system which demanded
that the banking department be used to
reward political workers Amber was put
at the head of great state department.
He had been d candidate for the nomina-
ton for auditor general and had been
defeated. 1t was necessary "to take care
Of him" So they looked around for an
appointive office just as good as the audi
LII.
ance department. No one seemed to care
whether the man fitted the Office. All
they were looking for was an Office with
a salary that would fit the man.
Now Mr.. Amber is charged with using
the North Penn Bank as a convenience
for making the state funds in his charge
available for use i'll his private business.
The surprising feature of the state Of
affairs which the failure of the North
Penn Bank has exposed is not that it
exists, but that it has not occurred before.
It is the expected outcome of the system
of using government as the mainstay of
the politicians. 1t is the logical develop
ment from the theory that public Office
exists for the public officials.
This theory is not peculiar to Penn
! sylvania. The politicians in every state
are guided by it and it is not unknown il
national politics. 1t is notorious that
! President Wilson made William Jen-
! nings Bryan secretary of state not be
! cause the distinguished free-silver advo-
! cate was qualified for the Office, but be-
, cause he wished to diSarm a dangerous
! opponent and prevent him from making
! trouble outside the breastworks. And
. Bryan fell down completely as secretary
! of state when the test came and he had
to get out.
Notorious instances elsewhere, how
ever, do not justify or excuse scandalous
instances in this state. The public off
cial who refuses to act on the theory
always wins the confidence of the people
1t was the insistence of Grover Cleveland
as mayor of Buffalo that he was the
trustee of all the people and not the
almoner of a political organization
elected to reward the workers of any
party at public expense that made hin
governor of New York and then Presi
dent of the United States. Yet in spite
of this shining example we have men il
Office who think that the way to get pro
motion is by dickering with the bosses
and buying their support by appointing
their followers to Office. They act a
though the primary function of govern
ment were the creation and maintenance
of political machine.
We do not mean to suggest that Po
litical machine has not its uses, nor d.
we mean to imply that the men who tax
an interest in politics should not be ap
pointed to office. But we do mean to b
understood as insisting that the men ap
| r,nintnd to Office Shoulh be fit To nerfnrr