232 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY
officials, they are handed over to the solicitor and judge of the district for prosecution. This promotes improvement.
It must be acknowledged that, while appreciating certain points of advan- tage in the system of civil service and appointment by competitive examina- tion, public opinion favors appointment for political reasons. But when technical fitness is especially required, it is generally recognized, and position conceded upon grounds of qualification.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
Our correspondent believes that in case of poorhouses, state asylums, and prisons, "the best men obtainable are appointed to these positions. In this part of the South there is virtually only one political party, the Democratic ; sometimes we are divided into different factions, but even then I do not think appointments are made in penal and charitable institutions solely upon factional grounds." He does not mention any civil-service rules or methods of selection and promotion.
VIRGINIA. As a usual thing, appointments are confined to persons members of the political party in power, but personal merit and fitness for the place usually have the desired weight. There are no examinations and tests in competition. Local sentiment is not sufficiently crystallized to be of definite weight.
LOUISIANA.
Dr. Searcy said before the New Orleans Conference in 1897 :
By far the most objectionable and baneful influence that injures state care of the insane comes through politics. This is the same old hydra-headed specter that has impaired city and county care, only it is in a broader, higher field, where it has not quite the same advantage. "To the victors belong the spoils" is never so baneful a political maxim as where the spoiling affects as sacred institutions as insane hospitals.
In the southern states there has been considerable political constancy in the state governments for a number of years, or until quite recently. What- ever objection has been found to hospital management in this section, it has not had its origin in frequent political changes, and, as a rule, the stability of control has, that far, had a salutary effect.
In the past two or three years, in the state governments of some of the southern states, this baneful principle has shown itself. In one or two states clean sweeps of the insane hospitals have been made, along with everything else, for political reasons only, and the thing is partially accomplished, or threatened, in other states. This practice is growing and has a most ominous future.
