Evening star., 1934-09-23

highest achievable training is impor-
tant at all three levels, but 1t is at the
second level that the current situa-
ton calls most loudly for a deliber-
ately devised new training program.
The officers of government who as
legislators and executives determine
the major lines of policy are recruited
by processes of popular election and
political appointment which are but
indirectly influenced by consideration
of special training of the candidate
iOr the special task in question. AT
this level of government service we are
dealing with the art of politics. And
in this art an unschooled Lincoln may
put the supremest savant to shame.
Modern government can get its vast
mass of operating routine done effec-
lively without setting up any elab-
crate training program beyond the
existing programs of the schools.
Administration Weakens.
1t is at the second level of govern
ment services, the level of admins
tration, that the major weakness OF
the problems of government increase
and as the role of the State expands,
more and more Of the decisions that
really determine the quality of gov
ernment are made at this level. A
growing number Of the most vital al
fairs of government are now DOM
mated by the directors, the secre-
tarieS and the line officers OF a be-
wildering array of governmental agen-
cies. AS the influence of these ad-
ministrators grows, it becomes in
creasingly important that in basic ca
pacity and broad training they be
more statesmen than technical oper-
atorS
In the United States We lack,
think. any adequate provision for the
particular sort of training that would
best fit men for service at this crit
ical important level of administration.
With a group of my colleagues at the
University of Wisconsin. l have been
deeply interested to explore possible
WAYS and means of preparing ana
providing such training, without un-
due expense to government and with
out Creating dIlJ oIlISS "NSe o---N ~
politics as a new institution.
This Wisconsin group believes tnat
these administrative servants OF gov
ernment need training broader tnan
the vocationaliZed eXpertnesS OF Spe-
cialized studies alone affords and bet
: ter integrated than the miscellaneous
hit-and-run studies of too freely elec-
tive cllrrjcula provide.
Project at Wisconsin.
Out of a series of separate studies
and conferences. this group has pro-
iected a schedule Of seven years OF
training for public administration. 1t
includes four undergraduate years de-
,, voted to the development OF a basic
understanding Of the broad processes
of government and enterprise, historic
and contemporary: two additional
years devoted 10 more intensive
study of special problems OF eco
nonnics and politics, and final year
devoted to study. observation and &C
tive apprenticeship IN appropriate oe-
partments Of the Federal Govern
ment.
have discussed at some length
| four basic revislons of democratic
procedure looking toward a technique
for dealing with crises. a reallocatlon
of functions between the Legislature
and the Executive. the effective rela-
tion of eXpertneSs to the normal pro-
cesses of government and the provl-
sion of adequate training for puohc
sertice. These and like revlslons OF
democratic procedure are important
parts of the price We must pay Tor
the avoidance of conditions that nave
elsewhere led to the destruction OF
democratic self government.
Important as these revlsions are,
they are not. in themselves, guaranty
of the survival Of democracy IN the
modern world. The destiny OF democ-
racv in the United states will depend,
finally. upon our success or failure IN
solving the economic problem. The
liberal republic cannot survive social
and economic instability. And this
dependence upon social and economic
stability increases when the liberal
republic. as with US, takes on more
and more of the character OF direct
| democracy Not even Americans Will
permanently adhere to the democratic
philosophy through the momentum OF
their tradition. Mems loyalty to any
form of government depends, finally
! ,Ipon what it does or fails to do to
light and to liberate their lives.
The third and final article in
this series by DR.. Glenn Frank ,riH
appear merit Sunday