Los Angeles herald., 1890-08-30
could be sold at ten or fifteen cents a
pound, the prices it really ought to be
offered at?
LET THE PEOPLE VOTE.

The board of supervisors will be called
upon to provide voting precincts for the
people at the next election. The very
essence of our institutions is to get an
honest expression of the popular will.
This is done by the ballot, and, in order
thatthe people may vote, not too many are
todeposit their ballots at one place. The
new law OF the state requires that the
precincts shall not embrace more than
200 voters each.
Here is how the matter stood accord
ing to the election returns OF 1888 t:
There were 130 precincts in the county,
which at that time embraced the new
county of Orange. The vote was as fol-
lows: Republican, 1903; Democratic,
10,110; Prohibition, 1866; American.
80; total vote, %, 1853. That is just about
200 to the voting place, counting those
who voted.
By the Topping off of Orange county
there were taken away according to the
vote of two years ago the following votes
Republican 1913, Democratic 1129, Pro-
hibition 219, American 3-total 1894,
leaving the political complexion of our
county numerically as follows: Repub-
lcan II ,260, Democratic 1881, Prohibi-
ton, 1047, American 77-total %, 365.
There were cut off in Orange county %
precincts, leaving in this county
los, with an average actual vote of 2l7
each.
As the country is segregated from the
city of Los Angeles, it appears the ratio
rises, and when the city is reached, the
law is not obeyed by great deal.
Taking the city by itself,we find the vote
to stand like this: Republican, 6,657 !;
Democratic, 5,l92; Prohibition, 319;
American, SO; total 1927. The num-
Der of precincts was 81, giving an aver
age actual vote of over $50 each. Few of
these precincts conformed to the require
ments of the law. In eight of them the
vote ranges at 200 to 800 each, there
being a total in these of 2020 votes.
These were the precincts numbered II, Is
10, 20, 25. 81, 80, and SO, and the average
was 252 votes each. In twelve the
figures ran at 800 to 400, there being
1885 votes in these. Their numbers
were 8, 4, 5. 7. s, Is, %, "a, 20, 80, 35,
and 36. The average was 361 each. In
six the vote ran at 400 to 500.
The numbers were 2, 9, IA, Is, % and
81, where there was total of 2620 votes,
or an average of 436 each. In four the
vote ran up to between 500 and 600.
These were precincts 6, IS, 26, and 2S.
In these the total was 2l3S votes, an
average of 534 each. One precinct, that
known as number |, in that election
shows an actual ballot of 61S votes.
And some of the precincts outside OF
city show the same disregard for the
law. These are few OF the voting
places outside of the city where more
than 200 votes were cast Azusa
250; Monrovia, 245; Glendale
206; North Pasadena, 296; Pasadena
City, No. l, 479; Pasadena City, No.
322; Pasadena City, No. 3, 3l2; Pasa
dena City, No. 4, 321; Pomona City
No. 2, 253; Pomona City, No. 3, 257
Pomona City, No. t, 241 Downey, $50
Rosedale, 236; San Pedro, 4O5; Santa
Monica. 800; University. 273; Vernon.
229.
The act fixing the number of votes to
the precinct was passed March 25, 1889.
1t is quite time there was some effort to
put it in force, and this should be done
this year. The intention of the law is
to subdivide according to the presump-
tive vote in district We have taken
only the actual vote, not counting one
stay-at-home. Pure politics and an
honest election require that this law
be obeyed. 1t will curtail the occupa-
tion of the vote-buyer, and deprive the
vote-seller of his opportunity, but that
is matter we can bear with some even
ness of temper. Make the precincts
small, so that the people may express
their preference.