The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-28
FOREWARNED.

A correspondent of an evening contem-
porary takes a similar view of the posi-
bilites Of boss management of the clubs
that was taken in g. F. Us communication
10 The CALL. 1t is impossible to deny
that the clubs may be managed as is out
lined in the two letters. The principal OBJ
lection to the proposed plan is that the
member of tile County Committee who calls
the club to order is authorized to appoint
temporary officers Of the club, including an
Enrolling Committee. G. F. j. thinks it
would be better for the County Commit
men to call the meeting to order and to re-
tire as soon as a temporary presiding officer
Is elected. We are not certain that this
plan would work better than that pro-
posed by the County Committee. Assum-
ing that there is an element in the party
which will endeayor to get control of the
clubs by unfair means that element would
certainly De on hand at the opening of the
meeting with q cut and dried programme.
AS soon as the Committeeman announced
that the election of a temporary presiding
officer was in order the boss element would
make a nomination. The citizens element,
not being prepared to act together, would
be outshouted and outvoted. The boss
element would, in most cases, elect the
Temporary Chairman. Now which is pre-
ferabe, a temporary presiding officer in the
person of a County Committeeman, who
may be held responsible for his appoint
ment of officers of the club, or temporary
officer elected by the boss element? Our
correspondent may not admit that we are
reduced to the alternative. He may con-
tend that a number OF citizens attending
the club meeting without a preliminary
inc orr nv Of hi
beyond general purpose 20 elect respect
able club officers. are likely to carry the
election OF a presiding officer against the
organized followers of the bosses. Expert
ence has shown that comparatively small
number of workers who know exactly
what they propose to do will prevail over a
larger number who act or fail to act with
out common understanding among them
selves. The boss detachment well know
their friends and Will vote sOlidly. The
citizens, most, of them at least, will not
know each other and not know friend from
opponent If the County Committeeman
names club officers, including Enrolling Com
Inittee, there is degree Of responsibility
attached to his actions. There will be some
body at least behind the club officers. But
if a crowd of boss workers put one OF their
number in the chair there is no one behind
him that can be held responsible for his
actions. He can proceed to strike names
of the list and put others on it, and Will
be in position to ask the citizens what
they propose to do about it. The CALL is
not welded to any plan. 1t wants the best
one that can be devised. We would like to
see every Republican voter in the city on
the club lists. and consequently would not
discourage quiet citizens who do not usually
take part in primary elections by intima-
ton that their names will not be allowed to
remain on the list unless they stand guard
over them, shotgun in hand. A few active
Republicans in each club can keep club of
ficers of the standing the committee would
lie compelled by common decency to APP
point from erasing names. stufffng ballot
boxes and other fraudulent methods