Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-02-05
THE TWENTIETH WARD TROUBLE
TOO nIpch Liberalism Crops out 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-busine 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 resi-
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
latter met to elect their officers. G. w.
Stayner, who was always popular and
prominent member of the institute, was
backed by the more liberal element for
president, while II. j. Romney was the
choice OF those orthodox members. With
a view to defeating Stayner's election d.
l.. Murdoch, an ofiicious aspirant for
polygamous honors, organized move
ment in favor Of Romney and by good
deal Of canvassing succeeded in pulling
several in that direction. When the bal
lot was cast, however, it was discovered
that Murdoch, who had been covertly
lobbying for himself instead Of voting
for Romney, had the gall to cast
his ballot for his own dear self.
1t appears he had pretty accu-
rately canvassed the probable results
for his vote had the effect of giving him
self plurality of one, his total standing
out Of possible ID, the remainder be-
lhB uiNluCu DCbWCCii tilC OtbCI WV CuilNil-
dates. OF course this settled the bust
ness, but it was always custom Of the
Directors to submit the official ticket, as
elected, to the following general meeting
of the Association for confirmation, and
when this was done, the next week the
ticket was gloriously sat down upon by a
tremendous majority vote. The occas-
ion of the opposition was Murdock's
name at the head OF the ticket, for he
is not by any means a favorite, par
ticularly among the ladies, who
prefer to give him wide berth.
After the vote was taken pretty vigor-
GUS debate ensued, and it was decided to
let the matter 60 before the ward author
tiles for final adjustment, and last even
ing was appointed for receiving the ulti-
matum. The ward has been without q
bishop since John Sharp's resignation,
and the matter was therefore decided by
the counselor, who ruled that there ex-
listed no necessity for the confirmation OF
officers by the members OF the associa-
ton, and that the ticket as it stood was
therefore declared elected and in power.
The decision has created very general
feeling OF dissatisfaction, as Murdoch has
expressed himself as favoring the idea OF
patterning the institute after the ortho-
dox form, and this, together with his
otherwise odious disposition, makes him
anything but satisfactory, and may yet
result in more serious disruption.