THE STRUGGLE FOB EQUALITY 547 



time at least may be more unstable. But the prospect is that what is 

 gained will more than compensate for what is lost. The new type of 

 leader promises to be more stimulating, more informing, more given to 

 discussing questions of justice, and beyond doubt more responsive 

 to the progressive thought of the time. The man who calls other 

 public men to account by reading their votes on the questions of the 

 day is a valuable addition to the public service. 



Popular rule may not always command the services of the most effi- 

 cient men. It may content itself with mediocrity. It may even on oc- 

 casion elect a crook to office, but, if so, it will not be because he is a 

 crook. Moreover, the crook who owes his position to the people may not 

 act like a crook at all. The people will condone many an error of judg- 

 ment so long as they believe in a man's honesty. In judging our public 

 men, it is only fair that due allowance should be made for the stinging 

 criticism to which they are exposed. Their motives are all the time 

 called in question, every mistake or weakness is duly noted. If men in 

 the private walks of life were subjected to the same ordeal, many of 

 them would not shine by comparison. Our railway and trust magnates 

 do not always successfully withstand the searching light of criticism. 



Some writers who question the wisdom of the referendum admit 

 that the masses are shrewd judges of men. The men elected to public 

 office correspond roughly to what the positions require. Our county 

 and municipal offices are usually rilled by rather ordinary men. The 

 governors of the several states represent a better grade of ability. The 

 presidency commands men of a very high order. When it comes to fill- 

 ing important positions, the voters usually display a good deal of sense. 

 As our cities have grown in size and the problem of governing them has 

 become more difficult, more capable men have been elected to municipal 

 offices. This explains the spread of commission government. The gen- 

 eral adoption of the short ballot would do away with the needless num- 

 ber of elective offices, concentrate responsibility and help to keep not 

 only the crook, but the mediocre man out of public office. There is no 

 weapon so deadly to dishonesty or incompetency in either public or pri- 

 vate life as the certainty of exposure. 



The fact that the people do not more frequently prefer college-bred 

 men as their political leaders sometimes occasions regret. But the fact 

 is not necessarily the fault of democracy. It is largely due to the new- 

 ness of our environment. Life on the frontier encourages contempt for 

 experience, lack of respect for training, a profound faith in natural qual- 

 ities, and an inordinate respect for the opinions of "self-made men." 

 It rarely suggests the need of the college-trained mind. The failure of 

 college-trained men to gain political recognition is also due occasionally 

 to lack of force and an assumed superiority. The man of books is often 

 disqualified for a life of action. The gradual extension of the merit 



