Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-10-29
A SAMPLE PRIMARY.


The chief objection to the Citizens
Reform ticket in the minds of many
voters in the city, II one may Judge by
what he hears and reads, is the man
ner in which it was prepared. 1t is
said that the people" had no voice in
the matter, and that 1t is un-American
to make up ticket without a popular
expression from them.
Az has been repeatedly and sufficient
ly explained, the gentlemen who have
promoted the non-partisan proposition
had no Intention of infringing upon the
right of the people to be consulted in
the selection of city officers; but they
believed that, If primaries and con-
vention were called, there was immi-
nent danger that those meetings would
be captured by politicians, who would
strangle the Reform movement in the
very process of its birth. They there
fore decided not to give the heelers
such an opportunity, and to go before
the people with this frank explanation
of the reason for departing from Gus
tomary methods, trusting to the good
sense and fairness of the suffrngists
for vindication; for after all. the
whole question of non-partlsan control
of the city hangs upon the good sense
| of the voters.
As sample of what was avoided
by the non-partisan committee the fol-
lowing account Of primary is given,
as furnished the News" at the time,
from strictly reliable sources For OBJ
vlous reasons fictitious names are en-
ployed, but the persons and facts are
| real: \ heller named Smith ap-
preached John Brown. n voter in the
district, day or two before the prima-
ry was held and said: John, there's
place for YOU on the ticket as n dele
gate to the convention If you will
agree to vote for Robinson for the
City Council; but if you don't agree
to vote for him, you can't get there"
Brown replied to the effect that Rob
inson was not his candidate for the
city Council, and the conversation
closed. Brown and a number Of voters
who supported another candidate than
Robinson for councilman, attended the
primary. They claimed TO be In the
majority, but Robinson's man secured
the Craftsmanship. There We're pres
ent number OF boys and girls from
twelve to eighteen years Of nge, and
when It came to electing delegates to
the city election, these minors were
allowed to vote.
Brown and the other opponents
of Robinson expostulated against
counting the votes cast by the
children, but the chairman ruled
that all Of the latter wnc
would promise to belong to tho
party when they were grown vi
would be permitted to have their votes
counted. They all promised, and as
they all voted for Robinson delegates
the latter were elected and Brown and
his friends were discounted. But
Brown would not let the matter dror
here. He and others called another
primary, held it and elected contest
ing delegation to the city convention
But the Robinson delegates We're seat
ed. aud his name-his real name and
not the fictitious one given him here
appears upon his party ticket as a can
didate for the city council.
His heller, falling to secure the sup
port of Brown and the lattors friends
and knowing how the primary would
go unless it was "nNed," got crowd
Of school children 10 attend and with
their votes won victory. THE peo-
{ pie" of that election district didn't
! have much 10 say about the nomina-
ton of Robinson before IT happened
but they've had a good deal to say
, about It since. 1t goes without saying
5 chat if Robinson is elected his heelei
! will be rewarded. This sampI,
E primary sufficiently Illustrates tn,
! ralslty and hypocrisy OF the claim that
= party machinery allows free expires.
I sion from the people,
. The city is filled with the suspicion
that every ward and election district
., within it is permeated in an direction.
7 with wires that have been laid bS
! politicians for the express purpose Of