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

of people generally, then it needs ex-
pert service. Unless special knowl-
edge is brought to bear upon the var
ious activities Of government. then
Incompetence, and in
efficiency will continue to flourish.
Still another of our prevailing no
lions is that charity begins on the
public payroll. All over this country
we elect or appoint men and women
because they need the office; they
have failed in business; they have a
large family: leg has been lost;
some one has died or some other mis-
fortune has befallen the individual.
Almost any misfortune qualities one
for public office.
Still another assumption is that pO-
litical parties exist to secure patron
age for their constituents. Long ago
Theodore Roosevelt declared that pat
ronage is the curse of politics. It is
the selling out price of democracy,
because it turns the political party
into a job brokerage machine, Great
ing a mercenary army Of occupation,
which. under the guise of democracy.
actually robs us of government.
1t is said that Congressman in
the Tennessee Valley received letters
from forty-six hundred of his consh-
tuents asking him to recommend
them for jobs in the Tennessee Valley
project. The Congressman duifully
wrote fortysix hundred letters to the
H.. ia. IN, oh ~ he
ject, declaring in each letter that he
knew the candidate personally and
that he knew him to be we'll qualified
for the job he sought. What COM
mentary this is on American poll
tics, The politicians and the various
pressure groups are reluctant to aban-
don this practice, for the reason that
it helps to keep them in power. In
crises, such as we are now experience
ing, the pressures are somewhat
greater than at other times. for men
in distress will sell their liberty for
bread, and the political spokesman is
ready to take advantage Of the situa-
ton.
A Greedy System.
The appeal of the political spoils
man is always an appeal to emotion,
to greed, or to class hatred. This
appeal is always effective in a dem
ocracy, and it is especially powerful
when the people are the victims Of
lost hopes and destroyed ambitions.
Even in normal times the citizens OF
a democracy find it difficult to set
up remote goals and strive consist
emily for their attainment. They are
disposed to follow the lines of least
resistance; they are prone to cOmpro-
mise with the future. Put in another
way. the American people, like demo-
cratic peoples generally, are always
seeking substitutes for intelligence.
Instead of relying upon expert guild
ance and advice in the realms of gov
eminent and politics, they are willing
to accept inexpert leadership which,
more or less. they blindly follow.
In answer to these indictments, it
must be said that civil service exists
in nine states and in three hundred
and sixty-five municipalities. Even
cipalities the political leaders are es-
pecially skillful in circumventing the
successful administration of the civil
service laws.
Civil service commissions are in too
many instances nothing but screens
for concealing the political manipula-
tions of the spokesman. The sabotage
of the merit system is under way in
many communities; the old forces die
hard. they are diabolically ingenious
in devising plans that defeat the sue
cessful administration of civil service
administration. The American people
believe in the Importance of sound
public administration: they will vote
for it whenever there is a referendum
on the subject; but once having es-
tablished it. they have little interest
| in it. and are not alert to sustain it.
! Legislation is not enough to insure
/ the success of civil service, its ad-
ministration must be protected by a
public opinion supported by the CO
operation of all citizens who believe
in good government.
Civil Service Vote In California.
Civil service and city and county
managerships. however, are increas-
ing in spite Of the difficulties OF ad-
ministration. These difficulties should
strengthen our resolves to lift gov
eminent out of politics. One of the
finest illustrations of what will hap
pen when the people have the oppor-
tunity of voting on the matter. &C.
Cured in California at the last cleo
ton. The legislature had been talk
ing for years about improving public
service personnel and doing nothing
about it. A citizens movement sup
ported by representative of all polit-
ical parties and faiths. succeeded in
laying before the people a constitu-
tional amendment providing for civil
service: it carried almost unani-
mously.
They also set up a plan to take the
superior. appellate and supreme courts
out of politics. Every one knows that
the courts are always or nearly al
ways. under pressure when their con-
tinuance in office is subject to pop
ular election. When a Judge must be