The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-03-21
THE GovERNoRsH1P.


the two leading candidates for the
tGoYernorship of this Territory are Col.
s. "A. Merritt and Prof. LIE. Holden.
Others may have their eyes upon the
place, but if so. their names have not
come before the public in this con-
nection. AS between the two gentle
men mentioned, Colonel Merritt seems
to have the decided advantage at this
end of the line, whatever may be the
condition of the race at the other end
1t is regarded here that Professor
Holden hardly fills the bill in the matter
of residence. 1t is true, he has large
interests in the Territory, and at one
time lived here, but of late years his
hemehas not been in Utah. unless
1t may e.creating a home for man to
spend two or three months year at a
hotel, his family being elsewhere ali the
time. 1t is said that Mr.. Holden has
good deal of political influence, but it
seems that influence is not going to
count much in this administration.
Unless we are mistaken, the Professor
will net be able to get the Office; we
believe he would make very good
Goyernar, and would perform the few
duties of the, Office in a way tocommand
the resPectof the people and to win the
confidence of the government; yet. as
he is not likely to receive the appoint
ment tits hardly worth while to dis
cuss as TO what he would probably do.
Colonel Merritt is by no means the
choice of the people for the office; if he
were it would be Idle to discuss the
probability of his nomination. The |
man favored by the large majority of |
the people of Utah for any Federal Of
flee in the Territory has little or no
chance of getting the Office, whether the
national administration is Democratic
or Republican. The President is not his
own master in a ease of this kind; he |
must look to the interests of his own
political party and guard against doing
anything that would operate to the ad-
vantage of the opposition. The people of
D ali would like best have Mormon |
f)r Governor, and after him a con-
sentative Gentle who has taken
no active part on either side in the
social and religious controversy that |
has been going on here SO long. The |
Mormon cannot receive the nomina-
, tod, nor could he be confirmed, and the
element here that will largely control in
the matter of Federal appointments
would oppose thorough conservative
almost as much as they would a pro
nounced Saint. We regard it as out of
the question that a man from out of the |
classes mentioned-either of which is
larger numerically than the really pro- |
nounced anti-Mormon Democrats-can
get the office. The choice will come |
from very narrow circle, and THE
HkRALD is inclined to believe that Col. |
onel Merritt will prove quite as accept I
able as any man in the coterie. There
is little in the Office except dignity, |
and this is to the hand of Colonel |
Merritt; whatever is to be done bv
the Governor would certainly receive
ADLER and fairer treatment by the Col
onel than it has been possible for Gov
ernor Murray to bestow upon it. While |
Colonel Merritt is known as being pro-
nouneed in his anti Mormon views. lie |
is not one Of the spiteful, vindictiye men
who delight in prosecuting merely to |
crafty bad hearts, nor do we believe he
would do wrong against the Mormops |
for the sake of receiving the plaudits of |
the Mormon haters. He has been here |
long enough to become familiar with the
people and ought to know well how
to best deal with problem upon which |
so many officials wreck themselves.
The chief, almost sole, duties of the
Governor are those requiring his action
upon bills passed by the Legislature, |
and In this matter the Colonel would |
certainly act ntelligently. Colonel |
Merritt is by no means the first choice
of The HERALD for the gubernatorial
office, but.among the men likely to get
the appointment we regard him as pre-
ferable.