Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-03-28

er tar11I walls, more natlOnal lSOdd-
ton, a breakdown of capitalism-what
America needs is a program that pro-
vides for intelligent citizenship and
economic security program whose
administration should rest in the
hands of those who through study and
experience have qualified themselves
for its administration. 1t is clear to
me that public service and education
are mutually dependent; they both
exist to serve the same end; the adj
vancement of human welfare. If one
fails, the other will be defeated.
Improvements by Degrees.
The Commission of Inquiry ON Pub
lie Service Personnel does not labor
under any delusion. 1t does not pre-
sumo for a moment that it will be
able to improve public administration
at once. 1t does hope that its findings
may be Of such a nature, and Of such
public interest, that attention will be
focused upon the improvement of per-
sonnet in public administration. 1t
hopes, too, that its report will create
gagged in public administration; and
it hopes still further that there may
develop a public sanction for career
service, a recognition of genuine merit
in public service, and that higher in
situations of learning will introduce
programs for the training Of those
who wish to enter the various fields
of public service.
There are several encouraging
signs: A number of cities have voted
to adopt the city manager plan; the
governors and leaders of several
states are asking for laws creating
state civil service commissions; more
cities are adopting civil service; the
| recent political overturn is stimulat-
| ing the thinking of a great many per-
sons who have hitherto given no con-
sideration to the matter, to the losses
that are being sustained by dismissing
| from office public officers with long
and untarnished careers. Other hope
full signs are found in the School for
Foreign Service created by Johns Hop
kins University; in the new courses in
public administration at Princeton,
Harvard, Chicago, California and
elsewhere; in the pledge that the SEN
iors of an eastern university took that
that they would enter public service;
in the fact that commissions exist
in this country and abroad to study
the problem. There is an awakening
Building for the Future.
l have not come before you to ad-
vocate particular bill, although /
know a civil service bill is being
prepared for your consideration. My
interest lies in a desire to secure eff
ficiency and experiences in public ad-
miniStration. | believe it can best be
secured by providing for careers. The
issue of better government is of pro-
found significance. Most of us realize
that democratic government is under
challenge and that it cannot continue
to live on the empty dogmas of earlier
centuries. The fears that America
may yield to the plague of Comm unist
or Fascist relationships, although not
lightly to be ignored, are largely based
upon misapprehensions of the true
sources of our present difficulties
The principle of self-government will
not easily be overthrow in this coun-
try. What we need is a change in
tactics and in methods Of work, not
in major strategy. Democracy and
efficiency are not necessarily incom-
| he
achieved if we have the courage and
the vision to devise and to support
the agencies necessary to achieve it
Out of the political ruins which are
tumbling about our heads, there must
be erected a new political structure
whose foundation will be secure and
trustworthy. Minds closed to the sit.
uatiOn, invite chaos; minds receptive
to change, mark the beginning Of so.
cial intelligence. Society is sick; /,
cannot be healed by using outworr
remedies Of the past nor by applying
obsolete formulate and systems-it car
be healed only by purging it of the
germs Of social disease-one Of the
most destructive of which resides ir
the disintegrating walls of our gov.
eminent structure. Legislators every
where face a challenge of making g
frontal attack on the problem. Nc
generation is worth its salt tina,
doesn't try to lay stronger founda
tion and build a finer super-structurt
for its descendants. A strong govern.
ment- stated by men and women q
talent and ability. selected on the
basis OF their training tested by ex
animation. proved by an apprentice
ship. will do much to help the ShiI
of State ride safely the turbulent wat
ers Of the present and to weather the
storms Of the future.