Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-01-02
HAD TO HAVE IT.

The beauties and worth of the spoils
system as applied to the Territories is
something grand. AS time goes on its
way things change and the yesterday of
politics is entirely unlike the to-day Of
politics. In Judge Cooley's Michigan"
there is a very good illustration of the
spoils system. Let all who live in Utah
be grateful that the political con-
dition of Michigan under Jackson
has never been seen in Utah, and per-
haps it would be we'll, as the new year
has now started on its course, in remem-
bering the beauties of Utah's climate, the
grandeur of her mountains, the wealth
of her mines and the peace and good
feeling which everywhere reign in the
Territory, to return thanks to Him who
watches over all that Utah is not as other
Territories are, and that we have never
known OF case IN which an appoint
ment to office has been made in Utah
because the appointee had to have it:
But a period had now arrived constituting
a new era in American politics, when for a
long time no general maxim of government
was to be so powerful at Washington as the
maxim that to the victors belong the spoils
of Office. This maxim of war, when war
meant robbery and plunder, was now being
adopted in the civil administration of the
Government, and was to vitalize all political
life and be the chief spring of all political
action and energy. AS the people of the
Territories had no vote, they constituted no
part of the victors who had captured andtaken
possession of the General Government, and
were, therefore, entitled to no consideration
in the distribution of rewards. These must
go to Virginia, Pennsylvania, and other
States, where many citizens who had shown
their patriotism by their labors in electing
the President were now waiting in expecta-
tion of receiving their share in the division
of what had been won at that election. Per-
sonal fitness for Office was found in the
fact that claims had been established
by labors In securing the election
of the Presidential incumbent. and
this, if not sufficient for all cases.
would seem to have been thought ample in
the case of merely Territorial position.
But circumstances of more personal nature
might also have some influence, and it
therefore caused no surprise when Mr.. John
T. Mason of Virginia, brother-in-law to the
late Postmaster General Barry, but wholly
ignorant of the Territory and its people,
was appointed Territorial Secretary. What
fitness he might have developed for the Office
no one can tell, as he soon elected not to
discharge its duties, and went abroad on an
enterprise for private parties. The Presi-
dent thereupon transferred the appointment
to Stevens 7. Mason, his son. The only rea-
son ever advanced for this selection, and the
only one that could have existed. was that
the father requested it.
The appointment of successor to Gov
ernor Cass had not as yet been made, and by
law the new Secretary would be Acting Gov
ernor and also superintendent of Indian
Affairs. rumor soon spread that young
Mason was under the age of legal majority;
that in fact he was but 19 years
of age, and his personal appear
ance indicated the truth of the rumor.
A committee of citizens was thereupon ap-
pointed to inquire into the facts; and on
calling upon him was frankly told by the
Young gentleman that he was indeed under
age, but he added that the President very
we'll knew the fact when he made the APP
pointment Young as the Secretary was, he
had not failed to imbibe the spirit which
was debating the distribution of political
favors: and he justified the appointment to
the committee on the ground that the enol-
aments Of the office acere needed for the sup
port Of his fathers family ichile the father
icas absent from the country.