Page:The Wisconsin idea (IA cu31924032449252).pdf/126

 In the words of Senator A. W. Sanborn, a member of the Wisconsin senate for many years:—

"The use of money as a factor, in determining the qualifications of a man to hold a public office, is fundamentally wrong.

"It is necessary for each voter to have sufficient information, in order for him to determine intelligently to whom his support shall be given.

"What information is necessary?

"How shall this information be furnished?

"Each voter should know who the candidate is, for what principles he stands, and what his record has been.

"This information should be furnished and placed in the hands of each voter at public expense.

"The reason for this is that our government is not based upon property qualifications for voting or holding office. It is based upon manhood suffrage; equality before the law; equality in opportunity; equality in voting power. The elector is selecting a public servant to perform public duties, and if the elector makes a mistake in this selection, he must bear the burden. It is a public duty he is performing, and the entire commonwealth is interested in having each elector receive sufficient information to perform that duty intelligently and well.

"The qualifications of two men being equal, the power of one with a large amount of money to spend, should be no greater, in securing votes, than the one without money. The amount of money the one has to spend does not add one iota to his qualifications to hold that office.

"Wherein lies the power of the man with money? He can bribe. He can influence votes with money. He can buy newspapers. He can indirectly buy the editorial columns of newspapers for the campaign. He can hire a large number of people