Evening star., 1927-04-05

IN the tendency pI IetlLcu bAlSAilC@7
men to enter public life. In this
country. however, there is still
prejudice against the entrance OF busi-
ness men into politics. Former Presi-
dent Harding contributed a major
blow toward the breaking down of
this prejudice i'm the selection Of
Andrew w. Mellon as Secretary of
the Treasury.
Insecurity of Posts.
Perhaps it would be undignified
for governments to attempt TO meet
the salary standards set by private
corporations. If there were assur-
ances of permanence Of tenure, able
men would gladly sacrifice monetary
reward. but under existing cireun-
stances insecurity goes with relatively
low remuneration. In recent years,
however a new incentive has drawn
men to public life. The returns ln
publicity have been large, and have
been the means of attracting lucra-
tive offers. Corporations have TO an
increasing extent in recent years gone
to public officers with alluring bids.
Former Secretary David +. Houston
is now president of the Bell Telephone
Securities Co., and vice president OF
the American Telephone & Telegraph
Co.
A colleague of his, the late Secre-
tary of Interior Lane, resigned from
the Wilson cabinet to become an
executive Of the Sinclair Oil Corpor-
alton.
William Loeb, secretary to Pres
ident Roosevelt, while he was in the
White House. is an officer of the
American Smelling & Refining Co.
Theodore Rousseau, secretary to the
late Mayor Mitchell Of New York, is
in charge Of the Paris office Of the
Guaranty Trust Co.
George L. Roberts, vice president OF
the National City Bank, was formerly
director OF the Mint at Washington.
Moreover, Frank A. Vanderlip, former
president of the City Bank, had been
assistant Secretary Of the Treasury
before going to the bank.
Senator Copeland was last year
elected president Of new local bank
started in New York.
Franklin Ro0sevelt's Rise.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, former as.
sistant Secretary of the Navy, was
chosen vice president Of the Fidelity
& Deposit Co. of Baltimore.
r. c. Lefflngwell, former assistant
Secretary of the Treasury, was in
yited to become member of the firm
of j. r. Morgan & Co.
Col. James A. Logan, jrs former oh.
server at the Preparations Commission
for the American Government, became
Paris representative of the banking
house of Dillon, Read & Co.
The foregoing are merely q few con-
spicuous examples of men who have
been attracted from public life by
private offers. If public officials be-
come able business administrators and
help inject a public spirit into business
corporations, the tendency is, of
course, not to be decried
And yet there is a weakness in a
political science which renders the
public service of able men tenn
porary.
For example, if the city of New
York could keep a man at the post
Of police commissioners who is able
to check the crime wave salary Of
$4,000 year would be absurdly
cheap.
Good Executives Worth Hire.
Good executives. whether in public
or private life. are worthy OF their
hire.
without capable leadership. a. cor
poration is little more than a CO
agulation of improbable physical
assets. The genius of good manage
ment can transform a moribund
organization into a living and profit
able organization. Witness the sue
cess of Walter P. Chrysler in re-
habilitating the decrepit Maxwell
Chalmers organization! What have
the services of Alfred P. Sloan, jr.
John j. Raskob and their colleagues
been worth to the General Motors
Corporation? Private business has
become increasingly aware of the
value of brilliant leadership and has
to an increasing extent in recent
years supplemented large salaries to
executives with a share In the profits.
Underpaying able men In public
service is national extravaga gance
1t not only makes their period of
lev