The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-12-29
THE REGISTRATION CLOSES AND WHAT
IT DISCLOSES.

THE REGISTRATION CLOSES AND WHAT
IT DISCLOSES.
The close of the registration yesterday
evening disclosed nothing that would en-
able either party to closely prefgure mat
tiers of consequence to it. The figures run
up pretty high and indicate a population a
long way beyond what even those who
have been good chalmers in conservative
way ever expected; and besides this, it
should be remembered that the rule else
where of five to one as an indication of the
voting strength has no application here.
There are hundreds of upright, able bodied,
intelligent and willing male people here
who are denied the sacred right which they
presumably by reason of birth or selec-
ton Of residence thereafter acquired. We
therefore take it, from the showing made
and all attendant circumstances, that the
population of Salt Lake now cannot
be far from $4,000 and the coming
census may run the total consid-
erably over that figure; certainly it will
not fall below it, unless there has been
crookedness in the registration, and many
names of non-residents been listed.
This is all very gratifying While it
may be and doubtless is the case that an
increase in population of hundred per
cent. in one decade has been accomplished
several times in the western country, it is
rarely, if at all, that such increase has
been accompanied with the same degrees of
solidity, stability and permanency which
have characterized and do now character
ize our growth. What we accumulate in a
general way is there to stay" There are
no balloon buildings and no ephemeral
structures in any quarter-all and every
thing bears the impress of longevity.
Instead of counting by the customary
gauge of one to five as the voting and &C
tual number of the people, 1t would be safe
to reckon, we think, at least six persons
for every one entitled to vote, for the rea-
sons stated, and it might go as high as
seven. For this is land where good sized
and goodly families are the rule, in addition
to the reason for an increase of ratio pre-
viously advanced, that many otherwise
qualified are debarred for opinions sake
and are not counted or reckoned on at all,
and thus do not figure in, the calculation.
The question of greatest Importance in a
local way now is as to the constituent ele-
ments of the registration. Beyond a Ger
tain undetermined point all is speculation
and calculation. Neither side can say with
certainty and demonstrate its posi-
ton with satisfaction to the gen
eral public, that it has a majority.
Claims are all very well in their way
but they can produce nothing in the way
of votes unless the latter are in such posi-
ton that they can be cast and counted.
Being so nearly tie makes it all the more
dubious and uncertain. 1t is well under
stood that several young men relied upon
as Peoples voters acted with the Liberals
in August and thus gave the latter a
majority to which they were not entitled
in accordance with all the rules governing
such cases, and of course upon that re-
suit they claim the predominance in the
city. But they are reckoning without
their host. In the first place, no such
canvass was made for the August election
as is going on now, and many of those who
were then casting their maiden ballots
were not so considerable as they will be in
February. There were then 10 organized
clubs by means of which political informa-
ton could be impaired and systematic action
inculcated, and ''the boys' were as con-
sequence not up to their present status as
political entity. 1t is a reasonable con-
clusion that at least the majority
of them have returned to and will
remain in the fold, so that, on
the August basis, the Liberals would be in
the minority. But there is something else
as factor to be considered. Will all who
have heretofore been Liberals remain
safely in that group! We think it ex-
tremely doubtful.
If things generally remain as at present.
that the election will be a close one is Ger
tain. Everything would seem to depend
upon the tickets and the manner in which
the respective parties complete their can
vass. So far the Peoples party have
made altogether the best showing, not only
holding the most meetings and showing the
greater enthusiasm, but making use of
more popular methods to gain popular ap-
proval. They have been more modest in
their system of campaigning and more ear
nest in their determination to accomplish
what both sides are intent upon, namely,
the capture and retention of the municipal
government. And their meetings are char.
acterized by greater enthusiasm and a
more pronounced esprit du corps than are
those of the other side.
The next step of importance is the tick
cts, then the hottest part of the campaign,
then the vote itself and the consequent
count. TIE HERALD believes the People
will win.
THE PRESENT winteris impressing it upon
everybody that some improvement in street