Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-03-06
A LIVELY ELECTION.
How the Republicans Rallied to their
Standard Saturday.

Standard Saturday.
The Republican primary election. to deter
mine the choice of the party for nominees for
a portion of the city Offices, was held Satur'
day.
In many respects it was the most remark
able election ever held in this city-or. for
the matter of that, in any other. 1t Illus
trates in the most brilliant manner the elias
ITCHY of party politics, and how easily the
managers of an election can adapt themselves
TO almost any conceivable situation. While the
general result of the vote is satisfactory to
the Republicans of the city, the method by
which it was obtained is suggestive and
amusing. 1t was one of the worst hotly-
contested primaries of which political history
makes record. The activity OF the friends
of the respective candidates was phenomenal.
While no breach of the peace OF any moment
occurred, the war Of words and works re-
called the traditional prattie and confusion
succeeding the curse that fell upon the am
bilious builders of BabePs tower.
Early in the contest the lines were very
clearly drawn. it was fight between two
groups Of veteran manipulators, having their
headquarters in the First and Second Wards.
and the bulk of the Republican voters of the
city. Both groups were obnoxious to the voters
of the Third and Fourth Wards; the two
combinations" went back" upon each other.
to use q vulgarism, and the result was that both
had their necks broken. w. K. Jones, candi-
date for Third Trustee, was recognized as the
ring candidate Of the Second Ward battalion,
and to his standard the two were to rally.
But for some reason, not openly announced,
the First Warders changed front, and left the
Second Warders to their own resources. This
desertion they discovered too late to Hank,
and the result was victory for h. Il. Ames,
the chief opponent Of Mr.. Jones. The
First Warders accomplished this by a
was bold, demonstrating in the most
pronounced manner the truth Of the
welI-worn adage. that he wins who
counts out the most votes" The Repuii-
cans of the First Ward awaited themselves of
the first maxim of war, " Live upon the
enemy" and thus, while at the Presidential
election Of 1880 Arfeld. Hancock and Weaver
combined polled, but 799 votes in the First
Ward, and Garfield alone but AT, on Satur-
day, in the same classic region, the Republi.
cans rallied SIG voters for Trustees, aud 695
each for Chief Of Police and City Attorney
This recuperative power in a party is only
one OF the examples of the vigor of American
politics. In the other wards the showing ex-
hibits less energy and less skill ia counting
noses, as these figures show:
Second Ward-Trustees 47S, Chief 473,
Attorney 456. Republican vote in 1880, 54S
whole vote in 1880, 707.
laird Ward-Trustees 693, Chief 6S1, At
torney GIG. Republican vote in 1880, S37 !;
whole vote in 1880. 1873.
Fourth Ward-Trustees $50, Chief $50,
Attorney CAS- Republican vote in 1880, 751
whole vote in 1880, 1,301.
In the choice of Central Commit e men,
the result of the election shows that the old
combinations had their backs badly broken.
The combination candidates generally were
defeated, and the committee, as now COM
posed, comprises the best material that has
ever served the Republican party in that
capacity.
Whatever dissatisfaction may exist in the
minds of the defeated candidates; whatever
of dissension or discord may ensue, growing
out of charges and counter. charges as to
frauds perpetra.ed in the election of Satur-
day, the present constitution of the City
Central Committee is a substantial gain, both
to the party and to good municipal govern
ment, and affords guarantee against the re.
currence Ct frauds in primaries and the IN
fair manipulation of political committees by
machine politicians. The new Committee
consists of Frank Miller. at large; A. j.
Mathew Cooke, John Mcneil, I'D ward) P.
Siebenthaler F. a. Smith, I'D ward) Mel
son Wilcox, n. j. Toll 18th werd).
Yesterday ard last night there was great
deal Of dissatisfaction expressed as to the re-
suit of the primary roceeding chiefly from
the defeated candidates and their friends.
Yesterday at 2 P. NJ. the City Central Com
mittee met and canvassed the returns, and
declared the following to be the municipal
ticket Of the Republican party: For Third
Trustee, E. T. Ames for City Attorney, w.
A. Anderson; 70. Chief of Police, Matt.
Karcher Fire Commissioner tong term), J.
I. Grifitts; Fire Commissioner (short terml
S. ]. jackson. OF these candidates some
thing may be said now. appropriately.
Mr.. Ames is we'll known business man.
possessing thu requisite qualifications for the
proper discharge of the duties of the office to
which he aspires.
w. a. Anderson is the present City Attor-
ney, and his competency for the office he
holds has been thoroughly tested. He is one
of ths promising lawyers of this city. He is
the first City Attorney who has SO attended
to the city's civil litigation that the Trustees
have not felt it necessary, as heretofore, to
employ at great expense special counsel, and
he has thus saved the municipality much
money.
Matt Karcher is the present incumbent of
the off 70 of Chief of Police. His ability to
conduct the sfFairs of that Office is unquea-
toned, and the long service he has had in it
peculiarly fts him for lis proper administra-
ton.
Messrs. Griffitts and Jacksoa are both
well-known citizens, EXPERIENCED merchants
and business men, and thoroughly competent
to administer the affairs of the Fire Depart
ment.
As to the whole ticket, waving all questions
that may be raised as to the primary, it is s
better, or at least as good, a ticket as that
which was defeated.
Below will be found the complete returns
Of the primary as canvassed and announced
by the City Central COMMITTEE