Page:The Wisconsin idea (IA cu31924032449252).pdf/127

 to work for him, which implies that they will vote for him for the same consideration. He can prevent others from being candidates for the same office. He can hire others to become candidates in aid of his candidacy. He can make himself feared and dreaded by the force of power his money gives him. He can practically purchase the office.

"He does not aid the elector in any manner in determining the qualifications of the candidates; his purpose is the opposite.

"The state is interested in securing the services of the man who is best qualified to hold the office, not the man who alone has the most money.

"If the best qualified man is poor and unable to place in the hands of the voters the necessary information, he cannot be a candidate, and hence the state is deprived of his services.

"How can this be remedied?

"First, Deprive the rich man of some of his powers; do away with his property qualifications as far as possible; make him stand on his real qualifications for the office.

"Second, Let the state aid the man who has no money to assert the power he should have to give him equality in opportunity.

"In other words, let the state regulate the power of the rich man, by depriving him of the right to use his money in securing office, and aid the poor man so as to place them as nearly as possible on an equality…

"The law should name the particular purposes for which any money can be used, such as personal travelling expenses, postage for personal letters; and prohibit all uses of money for any other purpose.

"Further limit the entire amount so it shall not exceed, under any circumstances, twenty-five per cent of one year's salary of the office for which the person is a candidate.

"This will tend to give all an equal opportunity. It will, at