The Differences in Method. 
333 
of which we hear so much complaint but against which nobody 
has ever found an effective remedy. 
The above analysis of the distinctions which must be made be¬ 
tween the nature of public and private busines shows clearly 
that private business and public administration belong to dif¬ 
ferent classes of human activity, and are not as may appear to 
a superficial observer, the same thing except for a difference in 
a few accidental details. It shows that the favorite phrase of 
many who aspire to reform our municipal governments in par¬ 
ticular, that a city is merely a business corporation and should 
be managed like a business enterprise is far from the truth if 
thereby is meant that the city is in essentials alike to a rail¬ 
way or manufacturing corporation. 4 
We now come to inquire as to whether the qualities of an 
efficient public officer and those required of a man in private 
business are the same, and whether the training acquired in 
private business of itself qualifies for success in public affairs. 
There are certain general qualities of mind and character 
which are undoubtedly desirable in both spheres of life. A 
public official should be industrious, accurate, methodical, regu¬ 
lar in his habits; these qualities private business training tends 
to develop. He should have some insight into human nature 
and know how to deal with men of all classes; this also is 
learned in many branches of private business. He should be 
honest; whether that quality is, on the whole, promoted by 
private business experience will have to be affirmed or denied 
according to the conclusions we reach as to the prevailing 
standard of business morality—a question into which we can¬ 
not enter in this place. 
Aside from these elementary qualities, it does not seem to 
me that the experience and training one gets in private busi¬ 
ness life is the best training for the conduct of public affairs. 
On the contrary, it may be disadvantageous by forming habits 
which are in conflict with the habits that best qualify for pub¬ 
lic life. From this it does not follow, of course, that a man of 
4 We do not consider in this paper the further and very important dif¬ 
ference that a city is entrusted, to a great extent, with the exercise of the 
police power. 
