The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-06-28
OUR PRIMARIES.

To obtain fair, free and full expression
of the wish of the voting public ought to be
the first and most earnest desire and aim
of every true, patriotic, honest minded cit
izen. How utterly inadequate is the pri-
maries system as In vogue with us to attain
this has been most emphatically disclosed
by the elections held in this city on Satur-
day and Monday nights. That there was
fraud, corruption, deception and all man.
ner Of ingenious iniquity practiced was
not only patent to the most casual observer,
but was actually glorifed in by those who
place present triumph as q desirable thing
over and above principle, truth and integ-
rity. That parties who lay claims to res
probability not merely tolerated and winked
at the corrupt devices, but actually lent
willing hand to their preparation in the
dirty pool of politics, is equally true. The
laws OF honor and the obligations Of good
faith were violated with impunity, in some
instances by open violence of effort, and in
others by species of chicanery that would
put the "heathcn Chinee" to the blush,
One voter for example, changed his coat
and hat twice, as well as name, and
thus became double sovereign.
Another one went through the front door,
cast his ballot retired, procured ladder
and reappeared through rear window aud
duplicated his first deposit in the same box.
Others again voted in different wards and
precincts. Some were under twenty-one
years of age, while yet others had never re-
sided in the ward at all. Nor was there
any party rule by which test of ones
party qualifications could be had, as one
democratic ward ruled that one night
lodging in it was quite sufficient, while tie
| chairman Of another required ten
days residence AT one meeting it
was ordered that no mans vote be received
unless he would pledge himself to vote the
entire democratic ticket, while at others, on
the same evening, it was merely demanded
| that he support the congressional nominee
named in convention. Who were indeed
| democrats, who republicans and greenback-
ers, we're questions alike without solution
by any rule, resolution or instruction.
Who should call the primary meeting to
order, how the officers should be selected
for organization purposes, etc., were all
| subjects OF heated dispute and excitement.
The consequence was, as might naturally
| have been expected, BULLDOG
ing bedlam and scandaous confusion
Throughout the recent canvass there was
nothing to secure victory that was lett UNI
tried by the ever enthusiastic and ever zeal
GUS friends of the candidates., and work
which, outside OF election margin, would
have ruined ones character in the business
circles as well as the social, was done that
utterly failed to disturb the gravity of the
muscles or Cypress the quiet OF the con.
science, as he who had not the manliness
to avoid dishonorable action, certainly
had not feeling enough to be ashamed of it.
The system is ineffective, false, pernicious
and fraud-producing, and 1t is to be hoped
will be consigned to that obliquy which il
merits because Of its fragrant invasions OF
all that the honest breast should hold
dear and sacred. What the rein
edy is should be matter of much concern,
and the promptest action by our people
Perhaps the registering of all duly qualified
voters in the respective wards, the deposit
oftbe ballot regularly numbered and that
number SGT opposite the voters name OF
the list, and he subject to adequate penal
ties for fraud and illegality, would bt
about.the most effective means. This i.
the method adopted in some of the coun
ties, while the state Of California, through
legislative enactment, allows the judges o
these elections to administer oaths, thu
making the illegal voter a criminal. As
practiced by Dallas county the system is 1
fraud, an absurdity, an evil and corrup
ton ofthe ugliest complexion.