With these exceptions contributions by candidates are in general free from legal regulation. There have been comparatively few great exposures to awaken the public conscience to the abuses that have grown up in this connection, but as to the widespread and extremely scandalous nature of these abuses no one who is in the least familiar with practical politics can have the slightest doubt. Broadly considered any large contribution by a candidate toward his own election is manifestly indelicate, not to say frankly improper. Custom has rendered us so familiar with this practice, however, that we are inclined to accept it as a matter of course. There is a certain gambling spirit inherent in politics which is profoundly potent for evil. Primarily this is due, of course, to the inevitable uncertainties of campaigning. No single factor contributes to it more largely than the habit of “assessing” candidates for office. Honest and able men are frequently repelled from politics when they encounter this system. Some of them may hesitate to make the material sacrifices involved and are consequently deemed miserly by the politicians, although it is not the amount of money demanded but rather the uses to which these men know the money will be put that leads them to withdraw. It is not too much to maintain that the conditions now existing in many places are worse than the property qualifications once required by law to make one eligible to hold office. Our present “voluntary” contribution system, rendered practically obligatory by party authorities, is more burdensome on the candidate than a property qualification because it requires him not only to have property but also to sacrifice a considerable part of it to obtain office or the chance of office. The old property qualifications were really lighter and more democratic since they merely required prospective office holders to own so much, and all who possessed more than this fixed sum were eligible equally. The existing system which allows voluntary contributions by candidates unlimited as to amount is equivalent to a property qualification interpreted in the light of the prospective generosity of the candidate. Party managers are continually under temptation to name the man who has the more money and can be expected to make the larger contribution. Of course this does not mean that the man with the biggest “bar’l” is always nominated. Other qualifications such as the man’s education, character, and equipment for campaigning, must be taken into account as well as his ability and inclination to pay. Or if one candidate is placed on the ticket solely because of his liberality the general average must be raised by a larger admixture of brains and character on the part of his running mates. So long as candidates’ contributions are unlimited as to amount we are, nevertheless, openly tolerating conditions which give the maximum effect to wealth as a qualification for public office.