THE FARMER AND THE TAX-GATHERER. 193 



by them. Then, regardless of party, we can vote against 

 candidates wlio evade definitely committing themselves to 

 them. Honesty and economy in public affairs are more im- 

 portant than the success of any party. The farmers can be 

 and should be the leaders in this movement. Among the 

 farmers, let any man lead who is impressed with tlie necessity. 

 If he is clear and definite, he will be astonished at the follow- 

 ing he will have. 



The lines upon which, only, reform can be expected, are 

 the following: — 



1. A permanent career for the civil servant. A railroad 

 clerk may expect to retain his ^wsition as long as he lives. 

 He learns his business, and expects to live by it. Railroad 

 presidents come and go, but the clerk stays. It does not pay 

 to break in new hands. If he develops ability, he may expect 

 promotion, but at any rate, if he is faithful, he is sure of his 

 position. He can therefore afford to work for a small salary, 

 and for full hours, and he does. 



2. Hours of work, and rate of compensation to correspond 

 with current usages in private business. This will involve 

 reduction of salaries in jwsitions involving routine work, and 

 increase, in some cases, for positions requiring great vigor, 

 judgment, and organizing or executive ability. It will not 

 pay the public to let private business absorb our ablest 

 business men. 



3. Entrance to the service and promotion in it up to 

 certain grades, to be upon competitive examination. This, 

 except for positions requiring technical knowledge, merely 

 insures that the public servants shall be intelligent men and 

 women, with a good amount of vigor, for it requires vigor to 

 succeed in any competition. It does not assure honesty, 

 executive ability, or judgment. It is certain, however, that 

 from the body of an intelligent civil service, there will 

 develop a sufficient number of those possessing those equalities 

 to fill all the positions requiring them. The rest will remain 

 as they are, faithfully and contentedly fulfilling the duties for 

 which they are competent. The worst possible method of 

 entering the public service is by means of a political pull. A 



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