Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-01

women And careers which appeal to them
some one neld franklin D., Roosevelt
career pS 81 N n isl in ot ne News es
York Senate He was Assistant secre-
was. Democratic nominee for Vice Uresi-
gent IN n u 1870 ,o He became Governor Of
Harvard 1Srs and snd IS s%ye r.
Y HAVE been asked to write about
the kind of training our young
men and women should have for a
i political career.
Let me say at the outset that /
do not believe that any one should
adopt politics as career" in the or
binary sense of the word. The day of
the professional politician is passing
and besides a greater proportion of
governmental positions, year by year,
are passing under the civil service.
Therefore, any deliberate attempt 10
make a living by holding Office under
modern conditions is doomed to failure
from the start. This is true in spite of
the rather rare example which We see
of political leaders in some Of our COM
munities who, year after year. continue
to hold appointive, and in rare cases,
elective Offices
Fifty years ago it was common to find
individuals making living by the sale
of political power. Today these prac-
ticeS are becoming more and more de-
spised throughout the country.
The civil service. and more lately the
diplomatic and consular services, have
become fairly definite careers which
provide opportunities for promotion ana
higher salaries when ability Is shown.
However, one can hardly consider these
services as political careers, for 1t is
the exception rather than the rule to
find civil service men or women either
candidates for Office or appointees
among those holding the highest posi-
tions.
Future Course Suggested.
This perhaps is unfortunate and it is
to be hoped that Presidents and COVER
nors will, in the future, more than they
have in the past, appoint members of
their cabinets and heads of their i'm
portant commissions from the ranks of
the permanent government employees.
A strictly political career, therefore,
should presuppose some kind of pro-
fessiou or business in private life to
fall back upon. Those who run for
public Office should not be deferred by
the possibility of losing an election or
by the possibility that if elected end
later retired to private life they will
have nothing to fall back upon.
Even If by special training and edu-
cation or special fitness for position
one can obtain high official post by
election or appointment, this post pro-
vides only temporary income which
sooner or later will be terminated.
1t Is well to remember, however, that
the fields Of elective or appointive Of
fees are becoming more and more open
to our young men and our young won-
en- who have qualified themselves for
leadership in conducting the affairs of
our Nation. These are the younger
generation, who, in addition to- or in
connection with, their chosen private
business, have given special study to
government as Such-municipal, State
or National.
Difficulty Of Task.
As an. executive during the World
War and more lately as Governor of
New York, am frank in saying that I
find the task of making selections for
important government administrative
ofhceS difficult one-not because of
choosing between scores of candidates,
but because of the difficulty of finding
the man or woman definitely and con-
epicuously fitted for the task.
AS specialization has become the rule
In business life, 1t is also being fol-
lowed more and more in governmental
affairs. Therefore, there is the definite
assurance to the future generation that
they will be given consideration for
governmental positions If they become
outstanding experts in any one of the
score or more fields of governmental
activities. These governmental activi-
ties follow in many particulars similar
occupations in private life and private
business. yet they require the additional
knowledge of the theory and practice
Of public relations.
hope that am right In my belief
that more and more young people are
entering the business of life with the
idea that when the opportunity offers
they will seek to place their knowledge
and experience at the service of their
fellow citizens.
The first step. of course, is in local
effairs-if they make good their State
and Nation will call upon them.
tcoi'yrisht. 1880. by North American News
paper Alliance.)
CThe next article of this series will
appear tomorrow, being discussion of
radio by David Sarnoff0