Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-01-25
POLITICS IN POMPET.
HOW Municipal Elections Were
Managed Before the Eruption.
The Ward system md Primaries We're
the Same "a Those of Our Modern
Cities - Ballot Box stunning
Known Tn the AncientA

The Pompciians were in the midst
OF a hot political campaign when the
city was DESTROYED hY lava and ashes,
y. ID. -. Dv. James G. yelling press
dent of the columbian university at
Washington, has been studying tho
features Of this ancient election. as
they are recorded upon the walls and
billhoardS which in those days took
the place of newspapers. In very in.
tcresting lecture before the Anthropo-
logical society, he gives a description
of ward politics in Pompeii more than
eighteen hundred years ago. 1t sounds
astonishingly like the story of modern
elections, with ward-meetings. primar-
les and appeals for candidates. The
city seems to have had a 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 las at liberty TO
run for Office. His mention to do -
was made known by his friends post
ing his name on the billboarls and
walls about the city. One Titus tie
marius, a baker. who had n shop on a
corner with n 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 well whether he stood any
chance Of winning. II 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and asked to have his name withdrawn;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
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
rs 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 I'M
known even then. The candidate who
carried a majority of the wards was
elected. 1t will be seen that this gave
the machine" a fine opportunity for
gerrymandcr.
The Pompeiians ''whooped it up" for
their candidates in the true modern
style. Thus the Late Topers, who had
their headquarters opposite the forum,
announced their preferences on q bill
board as follows: THE Late Topers beg
their friends to vote for Marcus
Lavinius Vatia for adile."
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
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 c. Gavius Rufus and NJ.
Holconius Priscus elected duumvirs.
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 Priscus 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: so Eubonius, keep
your eyes openr' And Infans is prod
ded as follows: 30 Infsns, you are fast
asleep, and yet you say you are cleo
tioneering!"
There was tavern in the first ward
where q primary was probably held.
At any rate, 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 10
them chairs!"
Unluckily, DR.. yelling could find
no record of how this election turned
out. Probably the Esd and oath of Au-
gust came before election day arrived.