The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1894-08-23


cities - Baiiot-Box stufBng
Known to the Anciepta
The Pompeiians were In the midst
,f a hot political campaign when the
.ity was destroyed by lava and ashes,
A. u. 10. DIR. James c. yelling, presi-
lent 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. II 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, Tor instance.
the Late Topers and the Sleepy Heads.
Municipal elections were held once
year, aud any citizen was at liberty TO
run for Office. His intention to do so
was made known by his friends post
ing his name onsthe billboards and
walls about tho city. One Titus Go
marius, a baker, who had shop on n
corner with side wall running back
along an alley. made n handsome
thing" by renting IL for bulletin
boards.
After candidates name had been
posted for some time, he could tell
pretty~wcll whether he stood any
chance of winning. II he saw that he
did not. he went To the chief sclcctman
and asked 10 have his name withdrawn;
but IL 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
that 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 Mt 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, n fact which seems to show
that ballot box stutiing was not I'M
known even then. The candidate who
carried majority of the wards was
elected. II will be seen that this gave
the machine" fine opportunity for
gcrrymander,
The Pompeiians ''whoopcd 1t up" for
their candidates in the true modern
style. Thus the Late Topcrs, who had
their headquarters opposite the forum,
announced their preferences on a bill
board as follows: The Late Topers beg
their friends 10 vote for Marcus
Lavinius Vatia for edile."
Vatia. who was favorite in sport
ing circles. evidently had some money
To spend in the legitimate expenses of
his 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 10 employ competent bill
poster, for his notices arc misspelled,
and in all respects unequal to Vatia's.
Thebus, a tavernkeeper on the Via
| Storta, wanted c. Gavius Rufus and NJ.
Holconius Priseus elected duumvirs
| Thoy had probably promised to get his
taxes lowered, or that the police should
let his place alone. Therefore Thcbus
had all the walls in his ncighborhood
decorated with "Thcbus and his GUS
| toners nominate c. Gavius Rufus and
4 NJ. Holconius Priscus for duumvirs."
a