The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-01-30
POLITICS IN OGDEN.


politicians were slow about getting to
work. The primaries and conventions were
delayed so long that the rank and file began
to fear that at the polls it would be every
man for himself. However, there has been
getting down to business and the result is
tickets in profusion, with parties and fac
tions yet to hear from. First came the
ringites, who claim to be the true Liberals,
and to have legitimate control of the organ
ization. They are the men who success
fully manipulated things two years ago and
may therefore be charged with a large
share of the responsibility for the discredit-
able government under which Ogden has
suffered and which has brought the corpor-
alton so near to the verge of bankruptcy
that its paper promises to pay are hawked
about at a discount. 1t is true, that the
convention shelved all of the old council
save one, thus showing what may be inter
preted as desire to repudiate what its
agents have DONE New men have
been nominated, and presumably reform
is desired, but the fact that the
same fellows who made up the ticket of 1889
also made up the present Liberal ticket,
should be sufficient with the taXpaying vot
ers to cause an overwhelming Liberal de-
| feat on election day. Ogden is an enter
prising and progressive city, but two more
years of such rule as she has just suffered
would almost crush her. We know little
OF the Liberal nominees, but we know they
were selected by party which has proven
that it cannot be trusted. If the people do
not defeat the ticket they will deserve the
punishment of two years more of extrava-
gance, incompetency and misrule.
Certain of the cleaner and better Liber-
ais are already disguised with the nomina
tons. They scent reputation and defeat
for the party, and would avoid the impend-
ing disaster to the political organization.
These have placed a ticket in the field,
made up partly from the original and
partly with Liberals to whom fewer objec-
tions can be raised. The new ticket, in
fact, represents the anti-ring faction of the
Liberal party as opposed by the gang. We
do not imagine that the anti-rihgites will
cut much of figure at the polls.
On Wednesday q convention was held
and a ticket arranged by gentlemen
| calling themselves Citizens. The NOM
| inees on this ticket seem to
have been taken from the conservative
| elements in both the Peoples and Liberia
parties. We assume, from personal knowl-
edge of some of the candidates, that the
aim of the convention was to select men,
without regard to party, who were devoted
to the best interests of Ogden. We also
| take it that this will be the popular ticket
and the one which will win. The declara-
tons of the convention are such as can be
endorsed by good citizens. They are as
| follows.
First-We demand the registry of all legal
voters and no others, a fair vote and an honest
count.
| Second-We demand economy in expendi-
lures in all depai tnents of the city government;
improvements 10 the fullest extent possible
without imposing excessive or buraensome
taxes; encouragement of industries and bust
ness and such wise and iudicious admin
istration fcity affairs as shall secure the
| confidence of business men at home and abroad
and tend to induce the investment OF outside
capital in city.
| Thlrd-We recognize the right of the laboring
men to have their interests protected and
| cheerfully accord to them representation in the
| city council, looking to that end, aud we en-
| dorse all laws and ordinances conducive to their
interests and protective of their rights-equally
| with all classes and interests of our city and
we demand the adjustment CT the present sys-
TEN of working convict labor side by side and in
competition with honest labor
| Fourth-We demand the impartial enforce
ment of all laws and ordinances designed to
protect the city against vice and crime and 10
pr0mCte psace and harmony.
And now comes the central committee of
the Peoples party with call for primaries
to be held in the several wards on Monday
evening. The call does not mention con
vention, nor does 1t say anything of the
election of delegates, but notifies the
voters that primary meetings will be helt
''for the purpose of considering the poiti
cal situation in Ogden city, and determin
ing upon the action to be taken by the
Peoples party" This may mean fourth
ticket it may mean that the People vii
stay out of the contest as distinctive
organization, or it may mean the endorse
ment by the primaries of the Citizens
ticket We will have to wait until tht
meetings have been held for the answer.
Meantime, we feel certain that Ogder
will be rescued from those who have ruled
it so disastrously. We feel sure that the
voters want reform; that they desire the
rescue and salvation of the city, and that
they will see to it that fraud should not on
this occasion be triumphant