The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-07-18

The following notice was sent to the
members of the Democratic city central
committee yesterday:
"A meeting of the Democratic city
central committee of Salt Lake City
will be held Thursday evening, July 20,
at 7:30 o'clock, in Justice Pardee's Of
fee, in the Eagle block. The purpose
of the meeting is the consideration and
discussion of primary election as pro-
vided by the last legislature; also any
other business which may be properly
brought before the committee. You
are urgently requested TO attend.
ID. c. DUNBAR,
Chairman.
&c. B. BBLAKELY,
''Secreatry.'
The committee is composed of the fol-
lowing named persons: d. c. Dunbar,
G.. B. Blakely. w. 2. Jennings. \. I.
Schroeder, J. D. Pardee. J. w. Burton,
w. II. Evans, j. r. Lewis, J. T. Raj
eigh, Moroni Gillespie, G. A. Gibbs, j.
NJ Cohen. Charles Smith. jr., Nj. Z.
Mulvey, Charles S. Wilkes and 7. A.
Williams.
Primary Election Law.
BY inquiry it is found that the pro-
visions of the primary law, which VIII
be discussed at the meeting, are but
little understood, and a great deal of
opposition to it exists on this account.
For this reason the move made by the
Democratic city committee is wise. 1t
is urged that the matter should be
thoroughly discussed before any action
is taken.
The law is very brief and was pub
lished in The Herald recently. 1t is
not mandatory: it simply gives the par
ties the privilege, if they wish it, Of
s7ara hx-
the primary system instead of the
caucus system now in vogue. Section
i states that the party may select
judges and presiding officers for prima-
ry elections, and fixes the time in cities
from to 9 o'clock in the afternoon.
Section 2 states who are entitled to
vote. Section provides for challeng
ing doubtful voters, swearing in votes
and the keeping of the record (by the
judges. Section provides punishment
for fraudulent voting.
Advantages of the Law.
County Clerk Dunbar, who has given
the mater much thought, says the chief
advantages to be gained are these:
First, a fuller and fairer expression
of the peoples wishes. Many caucuses
are now held in private homes, where
people are forced 10 wait sometimes for
hours for the caucus to be called to or
der and no one feels free to vote
against any candidate or measure pro-
posed. Under the new system the vot-
ing will be in secret, in a public place,
and people can vote at once and go
about their business.
Second, it will prevent a small clique
from packing the caucus in favor of a
certain slate. 1t will bring out a larger
representation of the people and induce
men to take an active part in politics
eta oil n viii "a ba
responsibility for the nomination where
il belongs-on the people. 1t will pre-
vent all from taking part in the party
primary who are not entitled to vote.
Mr.. Dunbar says the first essential to
the success Of the primary is a thor
ough registration to determine !who are
entitled TO vote. He thinks this in
itself viii be a great advantage to the
party, and will discourage fraud. He
thinks that all that should be attempt
ed al tnis time is simply the selection
of the delegates to the convention by
primary. 1t is not the intention to dis
pense with the convention, but the del
egates win be sent uninstructed and
will nominate their candidates.
Objections to the Law.
The objections heard to this system
are these:
The expense, which must be borne by
the party.
The lack of knowledge the people
have of the law and their opposition
TO a change.
The fear that a certain faction of the
party will make a clean sweep Of the
Offices.
The fear that Doodle will dominate
the primaries and that poor candidates
will have no show.
Dennis c. Eichnor, the new chair |
man of the Republican city scentral
was asked what action his
party would take on this matter. He
said the committee would take it I'M
der consideration. Personally he was
very much in favor of the primary sys- |
TEN. as he was familiar with its work |
ings in other states, but he could not |
say what action his committee would |
take.