The herald., 1894-05-20
Another Meeting of the Postal
Primary Committee.
Some Lively Discussions Before TAX
ing the Vote.
Out of Total OF Twenty-one Cast Fiji
teen Wore for the Original Plan
and Six for the Sub
stitute.

quorum. The meeting. however, rec
commended the plan. Almost the same
thing occurred Yesterday, as there was
no quorum present and again was the
adoption OF the plan by the main
committee postponed.
Mr.. q. J. Griffith called the meeting
to order aud in the absence OF the
president. o. T. johnson, ex.Gov.
Samuel Merrill was called to the chair
and Mr.. Griffith acted as secretary.
The fret work was the presentation OF
number of amendments to the former
plan by the subcommittee.
Col. H. q. Otis presented each one by
adding brief bit of explanation in
every case. They were as follows and
were adopted:
To mend section ], so that county
convention shall consist of not to exceed
300 delegates, 20 OF whom shall be
elected at large 10 from the city of
Los Angeles and Is from the county
outside of the city. Also that city
convention consist OF not to exceed $50
delegates, 81 of whom shall be at large,
three from each ward.
To amend section 2. 80 as to provide
that if the county clerk or the city clerk
shall decline to perform the services,
then any authorized public official may
do so, and in case of all refusing, then a
committee shall have charge.
To amend section 8, 30 as to provide
that tine clerk or other official in charge
shall print the ballots, instead of the
central committee.
Also to amend section 8, 30 as to pro-
vide that all namen and petitions shall
be presented to the clerk or other official
in charge, instead Of to the central
committee.
Also to amend section 2 to provide for
the central committee to have inspec-
ton OF the working OF the plan.
To amend section Is go that the con-
vention shall nominate from the body OF
the party in case no candidate has been
voted for by the people for an Office.
Also to amend section Is to provide
that the convention. in case the ''prefer-
ence votes" do not give q majority for
any one candidate for an office, shall
have due regard TO the distribution OF
Angeles and the remainder OF the
county.
Colonel Otis then moved that if there
a whole with the amendments, be
adopted. J. l.. Murphy seconded this.
Mr.. Frank Gibson moved, az an
amendment, that the roll be called and
the members be allowed to express
their opinions of the plan as offered, or
of the substitute. This was also sec
onded.
Colonel Otis then raised the point
that Mr.. Gibson's motion should be
made az a substitute and not as an
amendment to the one offered by him.
self.
Mr.. Hazard, the author of the postal
primary plan, was present. He said
that the plan suggested by Mr.. Gibson
contained many features that would be
likely to cause misunderstanding and
difficulty. 1t had been before the com.
mittee and been discussed at length, but
they had approved the other. He had
never gone to caucus or primary where
there was an Office to be filed that there
had not been "job" He declared
that the men who made the country
were the ones who stayed at home and
did not attend the primaries and eau
Ouses. 1t was the people who hung
around saloons that were active and
alert and were out at these times. II a
plan did not succeed in bringing out all
OF the people to the primaries it was not
good. and he did not believe the one
offered by Mr.. Gibson and the others
would do this. He thought that the
postal plan was the best one. 1t would
penetrate into the very fresides OF the
people and would succeed in bringing
them out. Why not give it a trial? II
would certainly cost nothing, and any.
thing would be better than the present
system, as the whole superstructure of
the method of government was rotten.
Mr.. Murphy declared that while the
substitute plan offered by Mr. Gibson
and others was the best that had been
submitted, it did not go far enough,
and he said it would be a mistake to
adopt it now. Proceeding, he declared
that the majority OF the Republican
central committee was composed
of those who were either in poll
tics or were controlled by those
who were. In reply to a question by
Mr. Slauson as to what they would do
if the various political committees re-
fnsed to adopt, the speaker said they
would appeal to the people. Let the
people elect delegates to the convention
if necessary, and if not then let the COM
mittee of 100 60 before the political COM
mittees and urge the adoption of the
plan
Colonel Otis added further that the
plan was creating sentiment, and if the
people were in favor OF it the conven-
lions could be counted upon to be so, too.
Mr.. Griffith said that 1t had been
claimed the new plans worked in favor
OF the bosses. and yet they we're all dead
against it.
Mr. Gibson asked what percentage of
the committee had responded by postal
cards giving their opinion of the new
plan He was told that out of 80 seat
out SO had been answered, and 80 per
cent of these we're in favor of the plan.
Continuing, Mr.. Griffith said that the
probable reason there had not been
many more responses was because it
had been discussed pro and con in the
news papers and the people rather hesi-
tated to express any opinion on It for
fear OF being ridiculed by the other side.
Then the very reason these particular
ones had not answered, Mr.. Gibson sug-
gested. WAS because they did not care to
take the trouble.
Colonel Otis said that the plan was
still in embryo, hut let it once be
adopted by the political parties the peo-
pie would be in favor of ii at once and
vote for it.
Mr.. Gibson said that the object Of
his substitute plan was to bring the
issues before the people.
TO this Mr.. Hazard declared that, as