COMPETITION VERSUS ELECTION.

The action just taken by the Yale students in endeavoring to free the managerial elections from the yoke of fraternity domination will be salutary. Nevertheless, election, even when purged of all impurities, can never hope to compare favorably with competition based on efficiency; for it will never secure men so absolutely familiar with their jobs, and so thoroughly competent to administer them. Competition has the further advantages that it fosters democracy by throwing the candidate in with men of every kind, and that it furnishes the most important non-athletic activity in college. Finally, it brings out latent ability rather than rewards popularity already achieved.