The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-11
PURE PRIMARIES.
Max Peppers Postoffice
Plan Discussed.
Diversity of Opinion Concerning the
ACCESSIBILITY of Such a PoIiti-
cal innovation.

There was much discussion among
Democrats yesterday of the "Postoffice
plan" of conducting primaries proposed by
Chairman Max Pepper at the meeting of
the general committee on Saturday night.
Much diversity of opinion was ex-
pressed. The old-time professional who
wore a close-fitting pea jacket over a
couple of hundred pounds of avoirdupois
and had hustled round and made things
lively at every primary for the past ten
years had not much admiration for 1t. The
most prevalent opinion seemed to be that
the scheme was too heavenly to be grasped
by the San Francisco Democracy aud il
would be smothered in the committee.
Mr. Pepper thinks differently. He was
out at the fair all of yesterday afternoon
and took in the fireworks in the evening.
The newly opened clubrooms in the Bald
win annex were deserted. and most of the
boys IOunged around the hotel and waited
for the tall sycamore OF Washington street
10 loom up on the scene. He did so some
what late, and he was loaded with infor-
nation on the postOfice plan.
II have talked with any number of geo
pie to-day" said he, "bOth Democrats and
Republicans, and, l think. have success
fully com bated every argument brought
against the plan proposed In Saturday
III AcSOIuSlOu IL , dS SIN PIC DIS SbD
be. aud really cannot see right now why
il should not work as intended.
I'm the first place, as heretofore, the
general committee does not recognize any
one as a Democrat who is not mem Der of
the club in his district. Well, the clubs
will each open books for registra ton, and
when this is completed the committee will
60 through these books and purge them of
what they consider the ineligible. Then,
after the nominations are made tickets
will be printed with stubs, after he Aus
tralian ballot system, and to each memb Der
of club whose name has been passed on
by the committee will be issued a num-
bered ticket, the corresponding stub being
retained. At the same time the voter will
be supplied with stamped envelope ad-
dressed 10 tie committee.
"By this means he can go to his home, vote
for the men he chooses by putting crosses
opposite their names and mail the ballot
back to the committee. The committee
will meet on certain day in some large
public building and the work of canvass
ing the vote will be begun, two men from
each district acting as clerks. This Will
act as a sure check and will facilitate the
court. As further precaution, the bal
lots will be made on peculiarly tinted
paper with a water line known only to the
! governing committee. Any member of a
! club may become candidate for delegate
| by so announcing and putting up $3.50 for
| expenses.
SIT will cost little or nothing as COM
| pared to the present system, and / contend
will bring about the result aimed at-the
voting only of Democrats at Democratic
| primaries.
"Of course, cannot tell concerning the
general sentiment regarding the propo-
stioD, but can say that so far / heard
yesterday the plan is generally approved.
! My resolution is now in the hands OF the
committee and will be reported very
| shorflv -