San Andreas independent., 1857-05-30
Primary Elections.

On fourth page will be found commu-
nication, set to the cold tune so frequent
ly sung on the eve of important political
nominations, by deeply affected or disaf
fected politicians, confessing that we feel
but little interest in the coming contest,
otherwise than to have the best men elec-
ted to office, we admit that the writer on
Primary Elections makes some strong
points in his argument In Calaveras
county the severity of the political contest
will be expended to secure the nomination,
to county Offices yet the preference, for
different candidates aspiring to State Off
ces, hold the balance Of power and will
mould all local influences to its will
Therefore, it is our desire to see only the
best men nominated as Delegates to the
county convention, by either or all parties,
which course must finally result beneficial to
payers. Charmed with the tune which
+" Old Song" sings, we have listened to
it and admitted it into our columns To
extenuate and place the importance of our
Primary Elections still more prominently
before the public, we copy the following
from the Sacramento Union of May 25th
The Convention season is now at hand. The
Democratic and Republican parties will soon
hold their State Conventions for nominating
State Tickets. Possibly the Americans may re-
vve and nominate but this is not very proba-
ble
Preparatory to the meeting of the State Con-
ventions, primary meetings must be held in all
the counties to elect delegates to County Con-
ventions, the latter electing delegates to State
Conventions This rule of procedure is in ac-
cordance with the usage of party.
The important move in the whole proceed
ings, is the primary election for county dele
gates. 1t is in these primary elections where
the skill of political wire-workers is exhibited.
At these meetings, combinations tell They do
not generally include more than one out of ten
of the real voters and this tenth of the party
manage to control the nominations of the can
didates All that is necessary is to secure the
county delegates for particular men, and the
game is won, for after the nominations are once
made, whether fairly or unfairly done, the lead
ers and managers know the party is certain to
vote its full strength for them. Members of all
parties must, therefore, perceive the vast i'm
portance which attaches to the primary cleo
ton. So deep is the interest which every mem
ber of the party has in the result of these pri-
mary elections that he should make it a sol
emn point of duty to be present and cast his
vote
While the whole machinery for selecting can
didates for office is set in motion and directed
by primary elections, every good citizen, who
considers himselfa belonging to a party, should
never fail to be present and take an active part
in those elections. They should also strive for
the purity and honesty of such meetings. The
plan by which they are managed is one which
enables few to control the result by foul
means.
There is no law by which such proceedings
may be governed; no known rules which can
be enforced and no penalty for double, false,
illegal or fraudulent voting, or for stuffing the
ballot-boxes Hence it is almost impossible to
have one of these elections fairly conducted
1t would be a great improvement, in electing
County Delegates to have them nominated in
a general meeting, their names all written and
placed in hat and from the hat as many
names drawn as there were delegates to be
elected. in this way the management and
scheming of wire workers would be most ef-
fectually defeated, and Delegates would be left
free to vote in Convention for the best men
named