The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-08-14
UNDER PRIMARY LAW
How City Democrats Will Select
Convention Delegates.
NEW PLAN IS ADOPTED
DEMOCRATIC COUNTY COMMIT
TEE HOLDS A SESSION.

decided to select the delegates from
Salt Lake City to the state and county
conventions under the primary law en-
acted at the last session of the legisla-
ture. The county outside the city will
proceed under the OLD plan. No dates
were fixed for primaries or conven-
ions, the matter being left open for
consideration at a meeting to be held
on Thursday afternoon at O'Clock at
the Office of Chairman LLOYD in the D
r: Walker building.
The decision to proceed under the
new law was not arrived at without
a spirited debate. Nearly every one
OF the ten committeeman present had
something to say on one side of the
subject or the other, and the argu-
ments advanced were cOgent. both for
ana against the plan. Chairman Lloyd
sprung the idea. II was nothing new
with him, for he has been advocating
II for some years.
How 1t Will Work.
He explained how it would work and
declared that he believed il to be the
only method by which a fair idea of
the wishes of the people could be
gained. Under Mr.. Lloyds interpreta-
uon, the law makes it optional with
political parties to proceed under the
primary system. He said that judges
should be appointed whose duty it
would be to remain at the voting places
during the hours in which it was de-
clded they should be open.
Those desiring TO vote for delegates
70 the conventions could walk up and
deposit their ballots promptly and then
get away. They would thus be spared
the necessity of remaining for perhaps
several hours while all the forms of a
mass convention were being gone
through with Mr.. Lloyd believed the
primary election plan would bring out
a larger percentage of the registered
strength of the party. He believed fur
Their, that better class of people
would interest themselves, with the
result that none but the best men
would be nominated.
Sabine Opposes Measure.
James Sabine cook the opposite
ground. He feared that the use of
money for carriages All in other di-
rections would enable candidates who
had means to control the primaries to
their own ends. Mr. Sabine did not
believe the method would insure fair
primaries at ali, but that it would, on
the other hand. make fraud possible
j. 5. Grow sided with Mr.. Sabine. He
said that if the primary system was
adopted tickets would be printed and
states prepared. Men would be found
around the polling places peddling
these tickets and the primaries would
take on all the rush and excitement
and hurly-burly of an election He
was of the opinion that women voters
would hesitate about going to the polls
With this plan in ODeratiOn
Max Beaver of Bingham thought the
county should not be included in the
proposition. He said they had always
had fair primary conventions in the
county, and he could see no necessity
for change. He moved that the coun-
ty be left Gus of the general plan
Moffatt Endorses Beaver.
Before the motion could be put D. W.
MOffatt also from the county. en-
dorsed Mr.. Beaver statement that the
primary conventions had al
ways developed the popular will. Still,
he thought the idea was a good one,
and if the county could not be segre-
gated he would vote in favor of apply
ing the rule all arOundI MahOnri Spen-
Ger of the county talkedain the same
strain.
DR.. Anderson and James d. Pardee
made talks in favor Of the law. Both
took the ground that more Democrats
would come out and vote and that bet
ter order would be maintained. They !
declared it would be impossible to
such a primary in the in
terest of any candidate or set OF can
didates.
The vote on Mr.. Beavers motion TO |
eliminate the county outside the city
carried by vote of six TO four. Then |
was put and carried by seven to three, |
as already stated.
a discussion as TO the date of the |
primaries and the conventions followed. |
Finally it was deemed best to postpone |
fixing any dates until a subsequent !
Chairman Lloyd, F. ]. Raw |
lings and James d. Pardee were ap-
pointed a committee TO prepare rules |
to govern the committeeman the voters |
in the city, ana report at the Thurs
day meeting.
Chairman Lloyd's Views.
Speaking of the primary plan adopted !
at Yesterdays session of the Democrat I
ic county committee, Chairman Lloyd /
said; ~
''The plan is simple and destined to |
become popular. l want to see it per-
fected by the next legislature. 1t
isn't all it should be, but ii is neverthe-
less a step in the right direction. l
believe in il for several reasons:
1T gives everybody who is interested !
in good government and the welfare of
the Democratic party chance TO par |
ricipate in the work of the primaries, !
where the foundation of success is |
aid It too often happens that pri- !
na-.ies held in the old way are packed, |
~ that a few cOngregate at some prl-
vate residence, prepare list OF dele
gates and adjourn before others VINO
1esire to participate nave an oPPol-
-unity 10 be heard.
..It offers inducements to every MEM |
Der of the party to take part IN. the |
selection of delegates, and prevents no |
me from exercising this privilege |
There are many staunch Democrats |
who want to see the party succeed ana
who are willing to do all in their power
to help il win, but they are aVerSe 10
scrambling for recognition in mass prl-
naries. or engaging in needless contro,
versies with meN who have personal
schemes rather than party interests IN !
view. Men and women who do not |
make a business of politics dread 10
start out to attend an Old-fashioned !
primary for fear il will be over with |
1efore they reach the place of meet |
ng; that il may be dominated by rae
ions or families or that dilatory tao
les may be employed for the purpose /
IF wearing out all who have no selfish |
interest in remaining.
Secures Better Delegates.
Delegates selected under the new /
system are pretty sure 10 be more rep |
than they are in mass prl- /
naries. The reason is plain. When a |
precinct meeting is called to meet at I,
some private house it frequently hap !