The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-02-08
HEELERS ARE OLD.
How Municipal Elections Were
Managed Before the Eruption.
Ehs Ward System and Primaries Were
tho Same as Those of Our Modern
Cities - Ballot-Box Stuhng
Known to the Ancients.

The Pompeiians were in the midst
of hot political campaign when the
city was destroyed by lava and ashes.
A. D. 70. DR.. James c. Yelling. presi-
dent of the Columbian university at
Washington, has been studying the
features Of this ancient election, as
they are recorded upon the walls and
billboards which in those days took
the place of newspapers. In very in
teresting lecture before the Anthropo-
logical society, he gives description
of ward politics in Pompeii more than
eighteen hundred years ago. It sounds
astonishingly like the story of modern
elections, with ward-meetings, primar-
les and appeals for candidates. The
city seems to have had thoroughly
equipped political machine" Polit-
ical clubs were numerous Some of
them were evidently composed of "the
boys" the Little Thieves, for instance,
the Late Topers and the Sleepy Heads.
Municipal elections were held once a
year, and any citizen was at liberty to
run for Office. His intention to do SO
was made known by his friends post
ing his name on the billboards and
walls about the city. One Titus &C.
marius, a baker, who had shop on a
corner with side wall running back
along an alley, made handsome
thing" by renting it for bulletin
boards.
After candidates name had been
posted for some time. he could tell
pretty we'll whether he stood any
chance of winning. If he saw that he
did not. he went to the chief selectman
and asked to have his name withdrawn;
but if he thought his chances pretty
good, his name was put on the white
list" after which there was no back
ing out.
The system Of wards and primary
elections was practically the same as
chat followed in New York to-day.
The electors chosen at the primaries
met at the Forum on election day to
deposit their ballots, and fell into line
as men do at the polls now. There were
three judges Of election, and each can
didate was permitted to station one of
his own men at the ballot box, to see
that no intimidation was practised.
The ballot box was very closely
watched, fact which seems to show
that ballot box stuffing was not un.
known even then. The candidate who
carried majority Of the wards was
elected. It will be seen that this gave
the machine" fine opportunity for
q gerrymander.
d. stxrrhoora1 ~ 1rv,S for
their candidates in the true modern
style. Thus the Late Topers, who had
their headquarters opposite the forum,
announced their preferences on bill
board as follows: 1.-The Late Topers beg
their friends to vote for Marcus
Lavinius Vatia for aedile."
Vatia, who was a favorite in sport
ing circles, evidently had some money
to spend in the legitimate expenses OF
bis campaign, for all his notices and
announcements are well got up. His
rival, Popidius, either did not look
after his campaign, or else had no
money to employ competent bill
poster, for his notices are miSspelled,
and in all respects unequal to Vatia's.
Thebus, a tavernkeeper on the Via
Storta, wanted G. Gavius Rufus and NJ.
Holconius Priscus elected dunn virs.
They had probably promised to get his
taxes lowered, or that the police should
let his place alone. Therefore Thebus
had all the walls in his neighborhood
decorated with "Thebus and his Gus
TONERS nominate c. Gavius Rufus and
M Holconius Prisons for duumvirs.
The electors did not mind stirring up
candidates who expected their friends
to do all the work for them. One in
scription reads: go Eubonius, keep
your eyes openl" And Infans ia prod
tied as follows: so Infans, you are fast
asleep, and yet you say you are cleo
tioneeringl'
There was a tavern in the first ward
where a primary was probably held.
At any rate, a large crowd had assem-
bled, and the landlord very obligingly
provided seats. For this he was re-
warded by an inscription on the wall.
The sentiment was better than the
grammar:
30, landlord, you did great to get US
them chairs!"
Upluckily, DIR. yelling could find
DO record Of how this election turned
put. Probably the Esd and Gath of Au-
gust came before election day arrived
Time II Money.
Merchant-The article Is first-class