Los Angeles herald., 1890-11-21
THE OTHER SIDE.
Two Citizens Like the New Method
of Choosing Delegates.

EDITORS HERALD In yesterdays is.
sue OF the HERALD / noticed an article
by Mr.. M. T. Collins, criticizing the
system under which the Democratic
city central committee has called the
primaries and conventions. If YOU will
permit the other side Of this matter to
have hearing will ask the liberty OF
addressing few words to the Democrats
OF this city. The Democrats OF this
county have held two primaries this
year. Were either of them conducted
with that fairness which candidate
whose name is being voted on for dele
gate has right to expect?
The writer OF this letter is not sore
head as to the result of those primaries,
for in each instance he was elected as a
delegate, and therefore has no personal
grievance in relation to the matter, and
only mentions them as examples of pri-
mary elections. The dissatisfaction
among Democrats over the first primary
can best be understood by reading the
issues of the HERALD Immediately sue
ceeding the first convention. AS to the
second convention, if the gentlemen who
are making objections to the present
system had been with the writer on the
credential committee, and had heard the
charges and counter-charges, and had
heard the charges made as to the char.
acter of some of the delegates to that
convention, they would (if they have
the horror of impure methods which
they pretend) be ready to join in the cry
for change. Is it not notorious fact
that large numbers of the best members
OF our party refuse to attend primary,
because they say it is useless for them
to attend and vote against repeaters,
Republicans and hobos brought in hacks
from the most disreputable parts OF the
city, and voted at every voting place in
the city?
Ii this is the case, do we not need a
change? And right here we will say
that almost the entire opposition to the
new system comes from Republican
newspapers and from the very politicians
who have been the cause of these
abuses.
We all know that the evils of the pri-
mary lie in the fact that Republicans
and non-residents of the precincts vote
thereat, and yet Mr.. Collins does not
complain that the names enrolled are
not Democratic residents Of the precinct,
and If the persons in charge of the en-
rollment have erred in enrolling persons
out OF regular hours is any one injured
If the persons enrolled are Democrats
and residents of the precinct?
AS tor the new system, | have no ex-
cuse or apology to offer for it, but ask
every fair-minded Democrat to read the
call published in the HERALD, and say
whether or not it will correct these
abuses. If that is good law which
compels man to enroll his name on the
great register of the county before he
can vote at the general election, in order
that the public and those interested
may examine and see if the persons
thereon enrolled are entitled to vote, if
this prevents frauds at elections, then
why cannot the same principle be ap-
piled with equal effect to party elections? =?
True, it requires little more effort on
the part of the individual Democrat,
but when the purity of his party is at
stake is there Democrat with so little
patriotism that he will not make the ad-
ditional effort? In answer to the allie
CATION that this is a Buckley system,
the writer only desires honest Demo
Gratis to read the call under which this
organization is effected and make hon
est inquiry as to who are the men who
are making this kick" This will be
sufficient to convince him that the So
called "kick" against Buckleyism is
only the old cry OF "Stop thief" The
author of this system is none other than
Samuel j. Tilden, and under the name
of the '"Tilden plan" this system is in
general use in several eastern states and
has given general satisfaction wherever
used. Yours in Democracy,
M. w. CoNKLING.
Los Angeles, Nov. 20, 1890.