New-York tribune., 1920-08-01
MRS. HELEN HAMILTON GARDENER be;no s1oore IN
- as United States CivM Service Couz1nissio1ler

SerV1ce commissioner
reveals definite characteristic points
Of difference between the male and
female brain is incorrect. No such
difference has ever been demon
strated, nor do l think it will be bv
more elaborate methods than those
we now possess"
Through the statement of the
great brain specialist Mrs. Gardener
won a victory over the physicians
who had refused to take her serious
ly. Her article, based upon DR..
Spitzka's statement, argued equal
rights for women from the scientific
standpoint. Other articles which
were later published along with the
lecture "Sex in Brain" take UP sub
Jects really more advanced, although
not SO scientific.
The radical treatment of her sub
jects gives one an insight into the
character of Helen Gardener which
cannot be obtained from meeting her
now. Her writing was done more
than twenty years ago Since that
time she has taken part in many ac-
tivities and has written little. For
one thing, she was for several wears
at the head of the Congressional
committee of the National American
Woman Suffrage Association. In
this position she was an active force
in furthering the cause of woman
suffrage and played a part in the
political life at Washington.
Belongs to No Party
However, she herself has no party
affiliations, although she has voted
in California. John Sharp Will
Jams has known her for years per-
sonally and politically. When her
name came up for consideration in
the United States Senate for the
office she now holds Senator Will
Jams was asked by one of the other
Senators what Mrs. Gardeners pol
itics were.
"Pve known her for twenty years."
Senator Williams replied. "She's
mighty fine woman, but l don't know
her politics."
Now, for the job of Civil Service
Commissioner it is just as we'll that
she should have mo politics." 1t is
the ideal service of this kind, which
is in no way affected by the rise and
fall of the tides of party politics.
In the good old days government
jobs belonged to the spoils of the vic
torious political party. With each
change of party there was a COM
plete overturn throughout the coun-
try of all the small Offices. Even
though all office holder had achieved
skill from years of experience, he
might be supplanted by a man who
knew nothing of the work, but had
been faithful henchman of the
successful party.
Our system of civil service exam
ination has done away with much of
this overturn. Mrs. Gardener is
heart and soul against anything bor-
dering on the "spoils system"
Civil Service a Profession
"Politics and religion Of civil
service candidates are left out en-
tirely," she said. "The tendency Is
to make the civil service Il profess
sion. 1t should offer a career such
as the army and navy do. To some
persons it has been that, although
it is not yet on par with the
military service. Why, we have men
here in these offices who have been
in civil service thirty years! "Here,"
She referred 10 some papers on her
desk, "this man has been here twen-
tysix years; another thirty; and
hereis one man who has been in
civil service thirty-six years.
"The decisions of the commission
are final, except that they may be
appealed to the President. However,
it is the judgment of the commits
sion to advise with the heads of de-
partments in matters concerning the
people in their respective depart
ments.
Before the war there were eleven