The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-06-01
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE
Why a Dakota Editor Gratefully
But Emphatically, Declines
Political Preferment.

a friend came to us recently and
asked II we would accept the nomina-
ton for Justice OF the Peace il il was
tsndered. We felt fiattered and have
taken up more room on the sidewalk
since. We saw that We were appre-
ciated. but nevertheless felt called
upon to refuse because we really had
1osaitable place TO keep the nomina-
ton and knew We could not get it any
way. -
We were never drawn into the whirl
OF political excitement but once. A
year ago last fall, during long and
particularly vigorous campaign, We
were found mixing in the hottest OF
the fight with our name on the ticket
for one of the important Offices. Some
time before election, few warm friends
ably seconded by some OF our worst
enemies placed our names on about
twO-thirds Of the tickets, with fatal re
suits.
The canvass made against us was re-
markable for bitterness. no kmoney or
means being spared 70 bring about our
defeat. While We stood here in the
Office at the ghostly hour Of midnigh.
setting up solid BREWER editorials on
the situation, our opponent tramped
around his open barrel with wide
shingle shovehng out great piles OF
coin. Our. past record was raked up
and truths told about us which we
never supposed any one in this part OF
the countryf knex All to no avail.
however, rs We hal the unspeakable
pleasure OF showing our INSCRIPTIONS
opponent under TO the tune OF fort :
i've majority.
As the smoke OF the battle drifted
away. We began to look up the pay a
good all around coroner who was not
afraid to work up business, usually got.
We found that the coroner was paid
wholly by fees, that he could expect
nothing from q heertless government
until he should sit on a case and bring
in a verdict that I'VE find the deceased
came TO his death from causes unknown
TO this Jury" Then we turned hung
rily. and expectantly 70 the records.
There we found that although the
country had been organized several
wears a death had never yet occurred in
IT, This was discouraging.
A glance at the future was equally
disheartening. A. far as we could see
there was not q man in the country
with anything about him to indicate
that he would crawl of in some shady
spot and die alone. or even that he
would plsyfully pump his neighbor full
of lead The community appeared to
be against the honest. hard-vorking
coroner.
When we saw how matters stood. we
went before the Board of County Com
nlissioners and said: Gentlemen
there seems to be no encouragement
for the coroner, no kind word for him.
there is nothing TO stimulate q young
and ambitious coroner anxious to rise
in the world and sit on a member OF
the legislature or circuit judge. moth
ing to lead him TO believe that his ef
forts are appreciated, therefore you
may have your resignation If you want
it." The head Commissioner said that
while they had no personal use for IL,
that nevertheless they would take It.
So we passed IL over, and they appoint
ed the rival we had buried so deeply at
the polls.
Since this experience, we have rather
Stunned than sought political prefer
ment, we have been content 20 rub our
fingers over q piece OF chalk and stand
at the case setting up local items by ear
and deep-laid editorials with only q
suggestion of copy plated on the blank
side Of q wrapper snafched ruthlessly
from the person OF a quarto exchange.
-Estellins %. IT, Bel.