, 1876-05-07
THE PRIMARY ELECTION SYSTEM.
THE SUBSTITUTION or WARD ULUB9-

To The Editor of The Chicago Tribune:
CHICAGO. May 6.~-The last Republican Con
vention appointed committee to tako into con
sideration tho question Of primary elections
md to report plan in lieu thereof. That the
old primary election has in our great cities be-
came fraud aud farce, no intelligent mar
doubts. Whenever tho Office to be filed has 8
large income. attached, whether as salary o.
emoluents OF various kinds, then the persona
who enter the fls.s for such Offices will use nll
tho machinery, honest or dishonest, known to
party managers. Honest men in the mnin are
precluded from entering into such = contest
on account OF the dishonorahle means used to
obtain o nomination.
It is notorious aod needs only to be men-
toned, TINT the dishonorable OF both parties as-
aist each other in tho primary elections, and
oftentimes QUO political party controls both
political conventions. There is q large number
OF voters In great city that will vote for the
party that offers the greatest inducemeat in tho
way of whisky, beer, or half-dollars-
It would seem that there should be no one to-
day who would dare advocate tho primary cleo
ton system in great city. What is to tako it's
place? We answer without heaitation. the
ward club" This institution III Chicago has
within six months developed q worth and
power in politics heretofore unknown. We
speak. with ( reference to the Republican
Clubs. They admit to membership every Re-
publican, without charge, and those who neglect
Ut 1GluA0 " UGEQu8 ul6u4uGlS aEb ku6 GAul4 U8T-
sons who cannot bo induced to take any interest
even in a primary election. and are willing to
leave the management or control Of the party to
others.
The Club consolidates the workngmen OF the
party, and plan is developed they meet each
other face to face, they become acquainted. and
their acts, whatever they may be, will have in
them sonic intelligence. The club Of each ward
will possess the Intelligence OF the party, and
those who aro not Republicans cannot control
these clubs in the interest Of the opposite party
The man who is to be nominated for Alderman
is before them, and ia not an invisible and un-
known quantity. The persons to be named as
delegates to city or county convention are
present, and arc known to the Club. Their in
tel1igence and their honesty will be known to
all. Heretofore, under the old primary system,
TITO or three persons in each ward who had the
machine in their hands would come together,
nominate q ticket Of delegates, usually two
tickets, either Of which the machine was willing
to have elected, and would then call upon their
party. or both parties. to come forward and vote
for them.
Under the Club system no such fraud can be
parpetrated. The Club ia too large to be con-
trolled BY the machine, and necessarily the best
men wil be selected for delegates. The vast
Office, and have no interest in the matter except
to see the best mon brought forward.
The Club method is the overthrow Of tbs
machine politician. It has proved to be 80 IN
the Eighteenth Ward. in the FIRST, Second,
Third, and Fourth Wards in this city, as well as
themselves, aud do not fear the party lsah, and
it man be nominated for an office who is
Objectionable, the power and tho influence OF
tho Club ia s1ch that, quietly and
without party revolution, Buch person Is easily
defeated. l think that such phenomenon IN
party politics was fever before seen in Chicago
sthe defeat OF A1r. Lipe. Out Of e, 900 Repub~
Ican votes cast, 10, 600 we're cast against him.
It was done by the intelligent work OF the Club,
and in opposition to the party machine. The
OF patriotism and honesty rather than mere
partylsm. While it works for party. that is only
q secondary consideration it is only method
of reaching what the voters desire, and not the
end to be constantly sought. a proper City
Government " OF much more consequence to
the average voter than is the SUCCESS Of his
party.
It will be found that every man in good
Office, from United States Senator down. who
has obtained such Office without merit on his
system. It is the most loved piece Of machinery,
BY al OF them, ever invented. They will never
consent that it be oyerthrown. But the people
do not like it. They desire something that will
produce statesmen aud honest men in Office, in
stead Of blowing politicians. defau1te1s, and
whisky y-thieyes.
I confidently assert that it is only BY means Of
the Club, which should be constantly kept aIive
and ready for action, that reform inside Of
political party can be accomplished. The
politician by profession will be unable to manipu-
late it, and his appointees to Office are not
sufficient in number to control it. An Acting
Governor cannot write personal letter. upon
Government paper, postage paid by the State
70 each Of the 200 or 800 members OF the Ward
Club. Nor can be personally visit them. It will
be useless for him to geek out the machine boJa.
tor he finds them ali ignored.
1t was BY means Of this Club alone that tho
City OF Chicago Was embed, at its last election
70 select the best men ever sent to is Council.
And Hhy should not the vote for Aldermen or
delegates be taken IN the open meeting OF the
Club, instead Of being taken st o primary cleo
lion The one vote must be honest. The 9th
er may be very dishonest. C.n any one now
point ont any real objection to the adoption Of
The club method or can be point out auy good
reason for continuing the old system This
community Is ready for ths change. -
L. MP.
FINANCIAL.
Tp4rptYa Tam Nav -Tov1oY 1np Il f1