The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-10-01

Purpose of System
 Tt was because of the general purpose of the merit system amendment coupled with confi- dencc in the men who were urg- ing it--nothing else. Supposing that the amendment had been printed in all the newspapers on May 1St. How many would have read 1t, or reading 1t, could have critically estimated It's fitness for the purpose? can assure any body interested that 1t is very dry reading. I read 1t myself, but could not presume to judge of its practical working.
 T did know, however, that 1t was drawn up by experts who had no axe to grind, who had studied the question thoroughly, and had at their disposal all of the merit system plans that have worked well in American cities and have given them conspicuously good government. Common sense tells that this was the reason for these signatures.
 Civic Movement a
 "One great accomplishment of these self-sacrificing young people has been that the movement has quickened the civic patriotism of several thousan dcitizens, Sonlc- thing that will not be lost. It is good to know that they will carry on the fight. Evidently the first thing to do in any such fight IS to print the amendment in all the papers. It will make no prac- tical difference as to signatures, but 1t would prevent Q setback due to e similar technicality. Let me repeat these young people have done e splendid work the benefit of which will not be lost.
 Before saying word about the present administration and It's opposition to the merit system l should like to say that undoubt- edly e Republican administration would have acted in the same way. This is not matter of party. All politicians, men who are in public life for what there is in 1t, are opposed to any such system.
 Opposition Seen
 Mayor Hayes Is said to be about to appoint c committee to draw up Q merit system. It is like asking Q prisoner at the bar to choose jury to try him. Every objection that the mayor has made to the proposed system shows opposition to the spirit of the whole movement. No system would be worth the trouble of adoption which did not take the power of appointment away from the mayor or any other elected official. No system would ac. complish anything which did not make the personnel director safe from the attacks of elected oi- ficials. This is the essence Of the whole thing, and when you boil 1t down this is what the ma. chine objects to. You cannot build a political machine without using the offices as q reward for all political activity. Contracts awarded to favored firms may en- rich e few and c number of other ways familiar to students of city government may help but the rank and file of supporters of the machine must be fed with offices.
 Fight Continues
 "This fight for good government is going on in many parts of the country, but we shall see 0 much bigger fight before we are through. In Waterbury we have had our Bull Run, but the war will go on till we triumph at Appomatox. In the country at large we havo reached the point at which we have lip service for both parties. Both parties in their platforms Solemnly promised to apply tho merit system to the national gov. ernment from top to bottom. Thls would have meant, of course, lift- ing the power of appointment and confirmation of the presi. dent; cabinet officers, and senate. The representatives of both par: ties in congress calmly ignored their promises. Like Mayor Hayes, they were in favor of e merit gyS- tenn, but not this merit sysetm.