Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-05
DoDG1NG THE PRIMARIES

~ REATER politics should be one of
IN the aims of Greater Los Angeles.
VI McGarvinism and machine plot
ting and planning should not be per-
mitted to usurp the functions and
rights of the free citizens. Any inter-
ference with the natural course of po-
Iitical events by any association of in
dividuals is an interference with Amer
ican liberty, and any attempted inter
ference should be rebuked with. rigor
and vigor.
Southern Pacific efforts to thwart the
intent and purpose of the primaries
system of nominations which the peo-
pie decided to substitute for the ma
chine system are efforts to retain the
machines political grasp and the ma
chimes political graft. In direct pri-
maries the machine sees the end of its
reign of pernicious power. and, having
misappropriated the motto of the old
guard, and having resolved it will die
but never surrender, it is making ar
rangements for its demise and funeral.
Because nothing but a thrashing that
will amount to the extinction of the
defeated and overwhelmed conspiracy
can be expected as the just, logical and
natural result of the endeayor of the
Southern Pacific political bosses 10
steal from the people the power of Sc
leeting their candidates.
The old machine game was to control
conventions and thus make it certain
machine men would be elected Now 1t
is making a desperate effort to control
the primary nominations by picking
out candidates and by summonng
popular" conventions to ratify the
candidates chosen by the bosses and
to pledge them party support Ii. E.,
machine support) at the primaries.
The people of Los Angeles cannot al
low themselves to be fooled by the
adroit McGarvin and his fellow schem-
ers into stultifying themselves by con-
senting to a juggle of the primaries
plan in order that it may be misused
for the purpose of perpetuating the
machine system of government to
which it was intended it should put an
end.
In the editorial columns of their Of
felal morning paper the machine lead
ers brazenly announce:
1.-THE one plan before us at the pres
ent time to give the people an oppor-
tunity to express their preference for
candidates prior to the primary cleo
tion is that of the Republican party of
this city.
"It is proposed to hold open eau
cuses at well known places. at a suit |
able hour, where it will be within the !
power of every Republican in each pre-
cinct to EXERCISE ALL HIS INFLU-
ENCE and voting power in the choice |
of about ten delegates from each pre- |
cinct to assemble in a general gather
ing in this city, at little later date, !
for the purpose of PICKING A CITY !
TICKET from mayor down to the tail
end of the ballot. This is taking no
power out of the hands of the people,
but inviting the people to take all pos
sible action in the naming of ticket
agreeable to themselves in the coming
municipal election. OF course the
ticket so NAMED win go before the
whole body of electors in the whole
city at the primary election for their
approval or disapproval."
In old-fashioned prayer book phrase,
from PICKING" and stealing, good
Lord, deliver us!
We have no doubt the ticket |
named" (another way of saying !
"nominated"l will go to everlasting /
smash. 1t will be defeated so badly |
that not one of the picked candidates |
will find himself in the race. The peo-
pie will rule. They want no rump Re
publican or rump Democratic, or any |
other kind of rump roguery substitut-
ed for a square deal.