The reason for a written competitive entrance examination is that it is impossible for the head of the office, or the candidate's prospective immediate superior, himself to know the average candidate or to test his ability.

But when once in office the best way to test any man's ability is by long experience in seeing him actually at work.
His promotion should depend upon the judgment formed of him by his superiors.
So much for the objections to the examinations.

Now for the objections to the men who advocated the reform.

As a rule these men were high-minded and disinterested.

Certain of them, men like the leaders in the Maryland and Indiana Reform Associations, for instances, Messrs.