Popular misgovernment in the United States

The book argues that unrestricted manhood or universal suffrage undermines competent government and fosters corruption, patronage, and political machines. Drawing on historical and comparative examples, it contends that the franchise is a governmental function that may be properly limited to those with demonstrated capacity rather than treated as a natural right, and it advocates property or other competency tests. Chapters trace perceived origins of expansive suffrage, detail its effects on legislatures, municipal administration, party bosses, spoils systems, vote trafficking, and foreign policy, and criticize rotation in office, concluding that restoring voter qualifications and institutional safeguards is necessary to improve public administration.