The San Francisco call., 1896-07-26
DEMOCRACY AND
PURE PRIMARIES,
The Iroquois Club Finds
the Subject a Hope
less One.
A DISCUSSION ANYWAY.
Reed Says There Never Was a
Decent Local Democratic
Primary.
THE JUNTA PEOPLE SHY OFF.
An Interesting Debate Attended by
Much Wisdom but No Prac.
teal Results.
THE JUNTA PEOPLE SHY OFF.

LhO AiOQuOlb OlNlO clcC-
tions the special topic for discussion at its
regular meeting Friday evening, and the
hopeless depravity of Democratic primary
elections was recognized by every man
who talked about the nobility of American
citizenship.
1t was Charles Wesley Reed who man
aged to get this rather live topic before
the organization in spite of difficulties.
There were difficulties because Reed has
made party harmony through general
primary under the Porter law his present
day fad, and because the Junta element
lof the Democracy rules the Iroquois Club.
Mr.. Reed tried to get "and incidentally
how to harmonic the Democratic party
in San Francisco" coupled with the topic,
"How to hold pure primary in San Fran
CISCO" but he did not succeed because the
majority element in the club does not
want to agitate the uniication of the
party.
The attitude of the Junta and of the
politicians enrolled among its sympa-
thizers Is that there is but one faction in
the party-the Junta-which is in fact
the party itself. The Buckleyites with
their great majority of votes are ignored
OAIOukn POllblCdl ncCcSSlINy anu . RtucIdl
party primary, at which the rank and file
of the party would have voice, is bitterly
opposed by the Junta through fear of con-
sequences, although the Democratic party
has not held a general primary since 1892.
The Junta powers propose to perpetuate
the present appointive regime over six
years instead of four.
It was the presence in the Iroquois Club
of great majority in support of the
Raine y-Daggett- -Lanigan rule that de-
MED, by vote, to Mr.. Reed the privilege
of discussing party harmony along with
primary elections.
For this reason, and because few Buck
leyite members reappeared at the meeting
last night. there did not occur the clash of
arms between the two factions that had
been expected to attend the discussion.
The discussion was confined to the topic
of primary elections topic ps limitless
logical, historical, Democratic and humor-
Gus standpoints.
The discussion began when all the un-
important business was ended, and it
closed some little time before the subject
was exhausted, ana some little time before
the entire question of municipal primary
elections was settled for ever.
derstood had small representation, so far
as numbers went. Reel b. Terry was
there, but he made only side remarks and
left early.
John A. Wall talked and was guyed.
Ex-Postmaster BRYAN listened and said
nothing. Robert BOYD attended for the
first time in months, but remained
STRANGELY speeehless.
Among the Junta champions in control
of things were President Gildea, Vice
President Walsh, Max Pepper, S. P.
Mead, Harry Zemansky, E. P. E. Troy
and others.
Judge LAWYER, w. J. Gavigan and c. J.
Sullivan were members of the largest
crowd that has for months attended
meeting of the Iroquois Club.
An hour or so after the meeting
began, Charles Wesley Reed got a
chance to begin the discussion.
He is member of the literary commit
tee which furnishes the club topics and
speakers, and he early made the interest
tiating with Professor Ross of Stanford
and Professor Moses of Berkeley to get
them to debate the financial question be-
fore the club. He finally got Ross to con-
sent and then, In his elation, he took his
prize to the Democratic State Central Com
mittee.
This authority decided to keep Ross
muzzled until about the last of September,
when big meeting would be held for his
benefit in Metropolitan Hall, and the
members of the Iroquois Club would be
invited to attend.
''Mr. Ross is one of the few political
economists of the country who are in
favor of the free coinage of silver at 16 to
], Mr.. Reed explained.
Nv hat does Mr.. Reed mean by saying
'one of the few political economists, ETC. 2''
asked Mr.. Moore in Indignation.
Before Reed had fairly begun Max Pop
per read resolution of congratulation and
Endorsement, referring TO W. H. Afford,
chairman Of the new State Central Com
mittee, and W. P. Sullivan, chairman of
the yunta organization, and recognizing
the local party as composed Of the Junta.
This resolution was referred to the reso-
lutions committee, four of the five mem
bers Of which signed it at once, and at the
next meeting the resolution recognizing
the Junta as the municipal Democratic
party will come before the club.
Reel b. Terry at once introduced a sar-
castle resolution, thanking "Maximilian''
Pepper for his unselfish labors of two
weeks in seeing that only "honest" elec-
ton officers were appointed. This re-
ferred to Peppers steering the Junta
nominees before the Election Commis.
sioners.
E. P. E. Troy had referred a petition
against The extension of the Geary street
franchise, and then Charles Wesley Reed
got fairly to work on primary elections.
Reed said he would not discuss the sub
ject before hostile audience and that
there had been deliberate attempt on
the part of the chairman and others to
prevent such q discussion. He said, what
everybody knew, that Democratic pri-
maries hao become farcical that there
was a shameful prostitution of the pub
lic'' and that bosses regulated conventions
and controlled primaries.
There had not been a decent and fair
primary held in San Francisco, yet the
people had put in the statutes the Porter
primary law, which had never been put in
force in the State.
1--WE hear such good men as Max Pop
per and Gavin McNab plead for pure
primary law" said Reed, "but when it
comes to applying the law we have they
have no use for it.
John a. Wall put in an interruption
and Reed turned like the worm, with
"Well, Mr.. Wall, the other side is thou
sand times worse"
at never used isinglass tickets" roared
Bob Boyd in defense of the Buck Ievites.
Reed expounded the Porter primary law
which no Democrat but himself is inter-