The Labor enquirer., 1883-03-17
MONEY IN ELECTIONS.
Henry George on the Evils Of Po-
Iitical Levies and Machine
Rule.

1t is encouraging that there is at last
an effort to stop the assessment of gov
ernment employees for political funds :;
but it should not be forgotten that be-
hind such assessments is the larger fact
that political parties require great sums
for election purposes, These shameless
Ievies are in truth rather a result than
cause of political corruption. That ap-
pointed officials are assessed for political
purposes is secondary to the fact that
elective officials (Or others for theR)
must pay roundly for election. The
election is the initial point in our politi-
cal system and so long as elections are
to be gained by the use of money, and
cannot be gained without it, no subse-
quent precautions will prevent corrup-
ton. Popular government must be a
sham and fraud unless the popular
will alone tells in elections.
It has in many parts OF the union
come to thiS-that only rich man, or
man who expects to make money ilIe-
ultimately out of the position, can
afford to run for office. The American
principle, that every one who devotes
his time to the public service should be
fairly compensated, is the correct one, as
whoever observes the working ofthe Op-
posite principle in such governments as
that of England may see; and on the
whole we pay our officials reasonably
we'll But in the cases Of many elective
officers, these salaries, minus the eI-
penses of election, leave an inadequate
remuneration, or nothing at all. What
does the pay Of United States senator
amount to as compared with the cost of
many senotorial elections? Or take
even the lower house, Some time ago
a rich young man Of New York spent
between $4,000 and 100000 in a con-
gressional canvass. He was beaten, and
the newspapers said it was popular re-
buke to the attempt of rich man to buy
place with money. Perhaps it was, after
fashion; for his opponent, who did get
elected, spent only some twenty odd
thousand dollars.
In the recent election a gentleman of
high character and national reputation
running for congress in New York, who
had virtually no opponent, and whose
election was certain, spent, it is said,
S1OOOO in what are considered legitimate
expenses. He is rich, and, therefore,
although there was in his case really no
contest, was expected to contribute lib
erallv to election expenses. In another
case, $4,000 was spent by a gentleman
also of national reputation, who is not
accounted rich, who has frequently gone
through the ordeal of elections, who
spent no money save for Legitimate"
PURPOSES and is considered a careful
manager. After the election heard the
friends of defeated candidate for con-
qress, in Brooklyn blaming him bitterly
for having made no exertion* He only
spent $500.
Thus it is in large cities: But it is
doubtful if it is in large cities that our
system of government has really become
most corrupt. Sparsely settled Nevada
is notoriously rotten borough, and
Kansas. Nebraska, Colorado and othes
new states are little better, And, per
haps, for the most fragrant election cor.
ruption we must. go, not 10 'li9 l"tgt
cities with their masses Of proletariat