Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-22
INTERESTING POLITICAL PROBLEMS.

On Tuesday convention OF Demo- \
crstic clubs will assemble in San Fran
cisco. 1t is an excellent idea to have
meetings of this kind from time to time.
Political clubs are an invaluable aid in
developing party strength and partixan
enthusiasm.
At the same time the HERALD heartily
hopes that no attempt will be made to
do away with the old Democratic prac-
tice OF holding primary elections. In
the Porter law we have been provided
with machinery, accompanied by pen
alties for the infraction of the law,
which, if the citizen does his duty,
makes injustice at the primaries impos-
sible. The Democrats of the interior of
California would not willingly surrender
their time-honored primaries.
A number OF San Francisco Demo-
Gratis, whose intentions are excellent,
have adopted the idea that membership
in Democratic club should be a condi-
ton precedent to the right to vote at a
Democratic primary in that city. In
other words, although his grandfather
might have voted for Thomas Jefferson
and his father for Andrew Jackson, and
though he himself might have voted for
every Democratic candidate for presi-
dent since he came of age, he will not
| be permitted to vote at the elections
which send delegates to the state con-
vention of his party unless he shall have
been regularly enrolled in Democratic
club.
A citizen twenty-one years of ago has
constitutional right to vote unless he
has been convicted of crime and SEN
fenced to the penitentiary. On the
other hand, there is no constitutional
mandate compelling him 10 belong to a
club.
The Democrat who is denied the priv
ilege of voting at primary election is
very apt not to vote at all. If he is very
mad at being disfranchised he is liable
to vote for the opposition candidates to
show his indignation at such autocratic
oppression.
In defense of the club system,
which is suggested for San Francisco,
it is said that if it is not adopted, the
Republican FOUNDERS and repeaters will
rush in and swamp the Dem
ocratic vote. Doubtless this is
true if the Democrats hack man
illness and vigilance. But, under the
Porter law, with the penalties prescribed,
with good supply of special policemen
or special deputy sherifs, there is no
danger of this. Rounders and repeat
ers have no desire to enter Penitentiary
doors, and there are a number of incer-
ruptible Democratic judges on the bench
of San Francisco, before whom the cases
could be brought. it is perfectly FEAST
BILE to hold honest primary elections in
San Francisco under the Porter law.
To this argument many well meaning
Democrats reply that the skeleton of the
Buckley machine is still in existence in
San Francisco. The answer to this is
that it must be overwhelmed and
stamped out, or there is no use of enter
tanning any hope of Democratic success
under any circumstances. If the head
less trunk of Buckleyism is more power
full than the organized and emancipated
Democracy success is impossible under
any circumstances.
In any event, San Francisco is not the
whole state OF California. Democrats in
the interior, at least, know how to pro-
tect themselves. They will insist upon
having honest primaries, called under
the Porter law, and will know how to
see that they are held honestly. All
Democrats will be permitted to vote,
whether they belong to a club or no.
There are circumstances in which the
manipulation of clubs could become
very oppressive. AS the center for the
dissemination of ideas and as reservoirs
of enthusiasm they are invaluable.
| When it comes to discarding the ira
ditional primary, in which ell Demo
Gratis participate as by an immemorial
birthright, the case is different.
The clubs should be kept down to
their proper business. The primary
election ia the Democratic keystone, and
only neglect on the part of individual
Democrats can deprive it of it's sovereign
efficacy for political good.
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