Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-02-05
THE TWENTIETH WARD TROUBLE
Too Much Liberalism Crops Ont I'm
the Mutual Improvement
Association.

The Twentieth Ward Institute or I'm.
provement Association is the oldest Of
the numerous similar organizations in
the Territory, and it has always been the
best one in several respects. From its
incipiency there have been quite num-
Der of live, progressive, Independent
men actively identified with it, and when
/ the organization some years ago was
requested to fall in line with the Y. M.
M. A. in other wards, the independence
of its officers and members came to the
front and objected to the change, express
ing preference for the form and features
which had characterized the Institute
from the first. The matter was not
pressed further, but Junius Brutus Wells,
Royal B. Young and one or two others of
their ilk have from time to time expressed
their disapproval, of the heterodox ten
denotes of the organization, and have
endeavored to have the president-and
two-counselor-bu business substituted for the
system which has heretofore obtained.
The general election of officers, consisting
of board of thirteen directors, from
among whom the President, Vice-Presi-
dent, Secretary, Treasurer, ETC., are
selected, occurs annually in the month
of January The recent election was
characterized by some remarkably inter |
esting proceedings, which tend to show
that the old characteristic independence |
still actuates some of the members. |
After the election of the directors, the |
.a@ 10 A. oGE N
Stayner, who was always popular and
prominent member of the institute, was
backed by the more liberal element for
president, while III. J. Romney was the
choice of those orthodox members. With
a view to defeating Stayner's election d.
l.. Murdoch, an officious aspirant for
honors, organized a move
ment in favor of Romney and by good
1eal OF canyassing succeeded in pulling
several in that direction. When the bal
ot was cast, however, it was discovered
hat Murdoch, who had been covertly
for himself, instead of voting
or Romney, had the gall to cast
lis ballot for his own dear self.
It appears he had pretty accu-
ately canvassed the probable results
or his vote had the effect of giving him
elf a plurality of one, his total standing
out OF possible Is, the remainder be-
ng divided between the other two candi-
lates. OF course this settled the bust
less, but it was always a custom of the ;
Directors to submit the official ticket, as !,
lected, to the following general meeting
4 the Association for confirmation, and I
1hen this was done, the next week the t
lcket was gloriously sat down upon by i
tremendous majority vote. The occas- q
IN OF the opposition was Murdock's I
anne at the head of the ticket, for he t
not by any means favorite, par Il
cularly among the ladies, who il
refer to give him a wide berth. [
fter the vote was taken a pretty vigor- Il
US debate ensued, and it was decided to a
It the matter go before the ward author il
les for final adjustment, and last even it
e was appointed for receiving the ulti-
atum. The ward has been without a tt
shop since John Sharp's resignation, h
Id the matter was therefore decided by lie
e counselor, who ruled that there ex- az
ted no necessity for the confirmation of d.
hcers by the members of the associa- G.
IN, and that the ticket as it stood was al
erefore declared elected and in power. m
ne decision has created very general be
cling of dissatisfaction, as Murdoch has
pressed himself as favoring the idea of ds
tterning the institute after the ortho- nc
X form. and this, together with his to
1erwise odious disposition, makes him m
ythlng but satisfactory, and may vet
suit in more serious disruption.