The San Francisco call., 1896-04-17
NEW POLITICAL THEORY
An Economist Who Advocates
Intelligence as a Voting
Qualification.
ONLY STATESMEN ELIGIBLE.
He Would Have Political Boards of
Education Issue Certificates of
Competency to Govern.

Peter 0. Wiese does not believe that
man should be allowed to vote until he
has passed critical examination and has
received certificate of competency.
In order that others may think as he
does Mr.. Wiese has had published at con-
siderable expense pamphlet setting forth
the reasons why an ignorant man should
not have any part in the affairs of govern
ment. The pamphlet consists of twelve
pages with an Illuminated title cover in
which two gentlemen. one with silk hat
and many-colored overcoat, and the
other with a derby hat, lemon yellow
pants and sack coat of dingy brick hue,
are flirting with two women on the street.
The ladies are as loudly dressed as the
men and are looking at the pair of mash
ers behind them. This interesting picture
is entitled, Thought for the times;
voters at the polls explains the root and
remedy for the general depression in busi-
ness"
There are several other funny pictures
in the book in black and white. In one of
these the Legislature is represented in ses
sion and labeled "Obedient servants of the
King; on the other side is politician
addressing the meeting. One of his ad-
vancing hearers is saying, "He's a great
man; he says big things; and another,
"Begorra, phat is he saying?
The following extracts will show the
scope of the work:
1t is therefore high time that an educational
standard OF political knowledge must be had,
without which no one should vote. The voter
should have sufficient knowledge of politics to
know what is required for the greatest pros
perity for all legitimate business, and should
understand the Importance OF educating and
elevating the minds OF the young in our COM
mon schools so that they may make noble men
and women. Then fair field for all, rich and
poor would soon be seen, all industrious peo-
pie would be able 10 accumulate.
To establish this there should be boards of
education throughout the country to examine
those who aspire TO the responsibility of vot-
ing, and qualify the voter by certificate like
| a schoolteacher is qualified 10 teach, and there
would be no fools to fool in politics.
To prove the necessity for drawing line be-
tween intelligence and ignorance look over the
country and behold the kind OF people that the
poorest half of the common laborers are, and
you will find that they would not do days
work If they could get food and shelter with
out, no matter how poor that might be. They
have not sense enough to be ambitious, and are
contented merely to live.
Go into railroad camp OF. any other place
where large number of men are employed
and any foreman Will tell you that if they al
lowed their men to lay off ell they wanted to
half OF them would not work at all. And still
these men who do not know how to provide for
L
vested with power to regulate the management
OF public affairs.
Is it not ridiculous that the high-spirited
and intelligent American people should be
governed by fools?
There is picture of farmer holding
the plow, his hired man prying out
stump with crow bar and his son and
| daughter driving two COWS to church.
| The title of this picture is Good people to
work and manage their private affairs,
| but know not how TO govern a nation"
| Another picture represents the two
mashers engaged in conversation with the
two ladies of the title-page. On the other
side are three tramps in front of saloon.
The title is People in Politics To-day"
The authors remedy is simple, but it is
hardly likely to be carried into effect, for
missionaries are sent to pagans, never to
fools. lie concludes:
1t is therefore to be hoped that all intelli-
gent people may soon organize throughout the
country for the purpose of forcing a National
law to be passed that shall disranchise every
man who can be fooled in politics and enfran-
chise every woman who cannot be fooled.
And when that is done prosperity to the
American people, both rich and poor, will be
on safe footing, and not before.
1t is OF no use for people VINO do not under
stand politics to organize for they are entirely
helpless before their intelligent superior. All
they can do is to strike like striking their fist
in the air and hit nothing, but straining them
selves 1t takes the intelligent people in the
country, and all OF them, too, to provide pros
perity to business so that no one need go idle,
and by which good wages will be the natural
consequence. And until they organize and
strike with their intellectual power all fools
they are in number, for you can make one fool
kill the other.