TABLE OF CONTENTS

VOL. I

CHAPTER

I. INTRODUCTION.
SUFFRAGE

THE FOUR THEORIES OF THE

The four theories of the suffrage-Suffrage an attribute
of citizenship-Elections in Athens-Use of the lot-
Elections in Rome-Suffrage a vested privilege-Suf-
frage a natural right-Conciliar Movement and its ef-
fects-Interaction of French and American ideas in the
eighteenth century-Flaws in the Abstract Right the-
ory-Suffrage a function of government-Relation of
this theory to electoral legislation-Supplement to this
theory needed-The moral content of the franchise.
II. ELECTIONS AND DEMOCRACY IN THE MIDDLE
AGES

PAGE

1-16

17-38

The disappearance of Roman towns and institutions
during the barbarian invasions-Origin of medieval
cities-Effect of the Crusades-The Communal Revolt
-The conjuratio or citizens' league-Connection be-
tween the gild and the city government-The gild and
the suffrage-City elections in Southern Europe-The
city councils-The Podesta-Progress of democracy-
Electoral machinery-Use of the lot-The communes of
Germany and France-Composition of the city council
-Electoral ceremonies-Electoral banqueting-Con-
flict between the trade gilds and the craft gilds for con-
trol of the government-The exclusion of the artisans-
Later victory of the lower classes-Gradual restriction
of the electorate Citizenship becomes an aristocratic
monopoly-The rise of national assemblies - The
Spanish Cortes-The Hansa League-Introduction of
the idea of representation-Parliamentary elections-
The Imperial Electoral College-Its members-Pro-
cedure-Medieval constitutionalism and the Church-
The College of Cardinals-Papal elections-Ceremonies
-The Conciliar Movement-Conception of a parlia-
mentary papacy-Its failure.

III. THE BRITISH HOUSE OF COMMONS

39-63

Importance of British representative institutions in his-
tory of development of democracy-Origins of the House
of Commons-The Witanagemot-The Curia Regis of

CHAPTER

the Norman kings-Local representative assemblies—
The county court-Early Parliaments-The House of
Commons-Growth of its power-Control of taxation-
Development of law-making rights-Petitions develop
into bills-Political power of the Commons under the
Lancastrians and Tudors-The Civil War and Cromwell
-Charles II and James II-The Revolution of 1688-
Supremacy of Parliament-Commons controlled by the
land-owning aristocracy until 1832.

IV. THE BRITISH ELECTORAL SYSTEM BEFORE THE

REFORMS

.

PAGE

64-90

Knights and Burgesses in the Commons-Difference in

social position-Representative of aristocratic interests

-Voting rights in county elections-In borough elec-

tions-Variations and complexities of the borough fran-

chise Scot and lot voters-Potwallopers-Burgage

franchise-Freeman franchise-In general the borough

franchise undemocratic-Distribution of seats-Uneven

and unfair-Advantage of southern agricultural dis-

tricts-Disadvantage of industrial districts at end of

eighteenth century.

V. ELECTIONEERING IN BRITISH UNREFORMED

DAYS

91-112

In early days seats in House of Commons not regarded

as desirable-Controlled by monarchic or aristocratic in-

terests-Borough patrons-Pocket boroughs-Lowther-

Power of nomination-Traffic in seats (boroughmonger-

ing)-Effects of system of nomination-Electioneering

in the eighteenth century-Bribery-Wharton-Ho-

garth's election cartoons-Growth of corruption-The

Christian Club of Shoreham-The Duchess of Devon-

shire as an electoral agent-Violence in elections-Ex-

pense of candidacy-The spendthrift election of 1768-

Elections controlled by aristocratic or plutocratic influ-

ence.

V VI. THE ADVENT OF DEMOCRACY IN BRITISH

ELECTIONS.

. 113-145

Demand for reform at end of eighteenth century-

Movements leading to Reform Act of 1832-Chief pro-

visions of the first Reform-Immediate effects-Con-

tinued power of the aristocracy-Unfair distribution of

seats-Increase of corruption-Further Reform Bills-

Gladstone, Disraeli, and the Reform Act of 1867-De-

mand for more complete reform-The Corrupt Practices

Act of 1883-Effect upon aristocratic influence-The

extension of the suffrage in 1884-The redistribution of

1885-Transfer of electoral power to the masses.

CHAPTER

VII. UNDEMOCRATIC SURVIVALS IN ENGLAND:

ELECTIONS AFTER 1885 .

PAGE

146-162

Character of British reforms-Barriers to Democracy

remaining-The franchise-Red-tape involved in its

acquisition-Latch-key voters-Length of residential

period required-Payment of rates-Persistence of

privilege in the suffrage-Plural voters-Unequal dis-

tribution of seats-Representation of a party in the

Commons not proportionate to its voting strength-

Expense of candidacy-Vestiges of corrupt electioneer-

ing-Exclusion of women from the suffrage.

VIII. THE REFORM ACT OF 1918 .

163-180

Attempts to remove barriers to democracy in British
elections-Their failure-Attitude of Liberals and Con-
servatives-The Redistribution Bill of 1905-The Plural
Voting Bill of 1906-The House of Lords prevents re-
form-Its veto-power weakened by Parliament Act of
1911-Reform Bills of 1912 and 1913-Position of
woman_suffrage-Effect of the war upon electoral re-
form-Revulsion of feeling in favor of woman suffrage-
The new Reform Bill-Its provisions

IX. THE BRITISH COLONIES

181-205

Character of democracy in the colonies-Comparative
weakness of capital-Social prestige of less importance
than in Great Britain-Types of government in the col-
onies-The development of Canada-Character of its
House of Commons-Method of distribution of seats-
Canadian franchises-The Commonwealth of Australia
-Federal government-Universal suffrage in force-
New Zealand-Extreme democratic character of the
suffrage-The South African Union-The Senate and
the House of Assembly-No uniform electoral fran-
chise-General character of Canadian elections.

X. ENGLISH INSTITUTIONS IN AMERICAN ENVIR-

American colonial institutions derived from England—
Instructions to conform colonial elections to English
practice Originally broad suffrage limited in the latter
half of 17th century-Franchise based on landholding-
The landed classes attempt to disfranchise the landless-
English borough franchise in the southern colonies-
General copying of the English county franchise-Eng-
lish influence on conduct of elections-Calling elections
-The poll-Electoral returns-Characteristic Ameri-
can developments due to democratic spirit and to fron-
tier conditions-Importance of a vast supply of free
land-Personal property as substitute for landholding

CHAPTER

qualification-The American point of view-The re-
ligious qualification-Differences from England in elec-
toral methods-Nominations-Most characteristic dif-
ferences were the proxy vote and the ballot-Origin of
the ballot-Advantage of secrecy-Voting by ballot-
The ballot developed to a higher stage in the proprietary
colonies than in England-Proxy voting a New England
product-Origin-Emphasis on the right of representa-
tion-Electoral feasting-The election day sermon-
Frequency of bribery and fraud-Repeating-False re-
turns-Use of violence-Penalties.

XI. THE ACQUISITION OF THE POLITICAL RIGHTS
OF MAN IN AMERICA

PAGE

227-245

Limitations on the franchise at the time of the Revolu-
tion-The Westward Movement-Influence of the fron-
tier on democracy-Origin of characteristic American
traits and institutions-Demand for equal representa-
tion for western districts-The Carolinas-Western
Pennsylvania-Vermont-Difference between English
and American ideas of representation-Equal represen-
tation acquired-The Declaration of Independence not
carried into effect in the franchise-Importance of the
frontier in the fight for equal suffrage-Effect of the
French Revolution-The Democratic Societies-Three
stages in the advance of democratic franchise-Liberal-
ization due to the contest for settlers-The franchise
question in New York-The defense of the landholders'
franchise-Manhood suffrage acquired-Present status
of the franchise-Racial qualifications-Residence-
Woman suffrage-Progress of the movement-Negro
suffrage Reconstruction in the South-Black Rule-
Graft and the Carpetbaggers-Victory of the whites-
Means by which the negro is practically disfranchised-
The literacy test-Booker T. Washington on the ques-
tion of the negro vote.

XII. THE MACHINERY OF ELECTIONS; CORRUPTION

IN ELECTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES . 246-265

Registration-The introduction of the ballot-The Aus-
tralian ballot-Massachusetts system and party column
system-Evil of straight-ticket voting-Complexity of
the ballot a fault-Need of a shorter ballot-Marking
the ballot-Safeguards for purity of elections-Bribery
-Campaign expenses and contributions-Demands of
officeholders-on corporations-Violence at the polls-
Pudding ballot-Marrow fat ballot-How repeating is
managed-Its enormous proportions-Attempts to
curb corruption-Publicity of expenses-The Oregon
Campaign booklet-Organization of honest citizens the
surest check-The Chicago Municipal Voters' League-
Hopeful signs in the progress of democratic reform.

The reason for political parties-What a party is-Party

history in the U.S.-Necessity for a strong organization

-The National Chairman-Mark Hanna-The State

Committees-The Boss-How he acquires his power-

Tammany Hall-Nominations in Revolutionary days-

The caucus-Change to party convention due to growth

in population and difficulty of travel-Legislative Cau-

cus-Hostility of Jackson-Growth of party primaries

-Violence and corruption-Beginnings of primary

regulation-The reform wave of the Eighties-Conduct

of primaries before introduction of direct system-

Method of voting-The party convention-Boss con-

trol-Evils of the convention system-Introduction of

direct primaries-Early forms-Tendencies in primary

legislation-Conduct of direct primaries-The prefer-

ential vote-The primary ballot-How the party plat-

form is drawn up-The strong and the weak points of

direct primaries-Legalization of parties-Advantage

of popular education-They have not called out a

larger number of candidates-Growth of nomination

by petition-Its advantages in municipal elections-

Non-partisan city elections-Reforms in party govern-

ment and nominations all tending to greater popular

control.

XIV. PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

IN THE UNITED STATES

290-305

Congressional caucus nominates John Adams-Denun-
ciation of the caucus method-Adopted by the Demo-
cratic Republicans and Jefferson-Opposition to this
method during the Jacksonian epoch-Nomination by
state legislation or mixed state convention-Origin of the
National Convention-Representative party system-
Status of a delegate-Difficulty of enforcing responsi-
bility-The Unit Rule-The Meeting of the Convention
-The Favorite, The Favorite Son, and the Dark Horse

-Convention oratory-Services of the nominating con-

vention Introduction of Presidential primaries-Elec-

tion to the Presidency still indirect-The terms of the

Constitution--The Electoral College-Its theory-

Failure to realize aims of its founders-Evils of the

electoral_college system-Fails to represent popular

choice-Instances of this-Haphazard method of count-

ing electoral votes-Disputed elections of the past-

Double sets of returns-Contested election of 1876-

The Electoral Commission-Electoral Count Act of

1887-Needed reform of the Electoral College and the

system of counting.