The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-05-17
4 TERRIBLE ARRANGEMENT

ment which has ever existed in the history OF
America, AS proof of this let the facts be
stated, that our fellow citizens of the Union
may realize our helpless condition;
Our elections are held under the direct super
vision and control of FIVE men who are neither
citizens nor residents of the territory, but OF
states at distance of from one thousand to ff-
teen hundred miles from US.
We are not allowed to appoint single regis
trar OF voters, nor single judge or clerk at an
election poll
We cannot elect a justice of the peace nor
and commission him to perform the
duties OF his office without the intervention of
the Utah commission
Our judges are appointed and sent to us from
abroad, and no application or petition from US
to the appointing power receives even passing
notice.
Our governor is appointed and sent to US
from abroad. He possesses no competent
knowledge of our people and their affairs so as
to fit him for the high Office which he olds. He
possesses an absolute veto upon the laws
passed by our representatives.. and as an evil
dence that he holds sympathy with the
people, he arbitrarily and in q most reckless
manner exercises the veto power, even TO para
lying the just efforts of the legislature in ex-
hibiting to the world the great resources of our
territory; therefore, cit
Resolved /, That we demand that these evils
which so sorely vex US be put away from our
people, and that we be accorded that measure
of liberty enjoyed by our fellow citizens of all
parts of our common country.
Resolved ,, That every condition necessary to
the full exercise otlocal selfgovernment exists
in Utah, and that we are entitled at this time
to full fellowship in the family of American
states, and that in the meantime, until state
hood can be accomplished, we demand that the
Home Rule bill now pending in Congress be
passed in order that we may be relieved in some
measure OF the vicious and un Am erican system
of territorial government now existing.
The above was unanimously adopted by
the great Democratic convention at Ogden
it carefully. Those familiar with affairs
here know how true the indictment is in
all its counts. Those unacquainted with
the facts may doubt the presentment. If
they are American citizens they will be
very apt to doubt, and TO think that per-
haps partisan zeal caused the trainers of
the preamble and resolutions to go beyond
the absolute truth. 1t would be natural for
American citizens living elsewhere than i'll
rights which everywhere else 60 with cit
izenship, to doubt that such an arraign
ment as the above could be exact any
where in this republic; and yet we
assure all that not even in suggestive
ness has there been departure from the
absolute truth. What is here set forth.
terrible as it seems, and worse as it is, is
but moderate and modest presentment of
the situation. What would the people Of
New York or Pennsylvania think, what
would they do, if five men from distant
states were sent to them endowed with alb
solute control over all the election machin-
cry, from the registration of voters TO the
counting of the returns and issuance of
certificates of election! Five men have
and exercise just sucn control in Utah,
and those five men are not only not
citizens of the territory, but do not
even reside here except for a few
weeks during the year, their visits usually
being timed SO as to take advantage of the
vacation season at their own distant
homes and the pleasantest part of the yeal
in this city A justice of the peace or
constable cannot be elected without The
interposition of this quintette of strangers
and unfortunately the commissioners are
open and pronounced in their emuity tt
so that the minority is given the advant
ages in every contest. Registrars are care
fully selected because of their intense
partlsanship and readiness 10 play into til,
hands of an INSCRIPTIONS minority whicl
is fostered and encouraged by the election
board. Judges of election are chosen wht
can be relied upon to resolve every doub
in favor of the petted minority, and out
rageous disregard of fairness and of tht
law even is winked at by this partisan
board sent here from abroad. The PEG
pie of New ork and Pennsylvania
will find it difficult to bring their minds tt
believe these things are possible in iret
and republican America, but they are true
as gospel nevertheless.
Only in this territory has the governor
the power of absolute veto upon the acts O.
the legislature. Nothing can be done il
the assembly without his consent He cal
and frequently does nullify and set a
naught the unanimous vote of the law
makers. and often does so to the great an.
noyance and distress CT the entire commun
ity, as was the case when the appropriation
bill was vetoed and for two years the terri
tory left without a dollar to pay the ex
penses of the government the money beinl
in the treasury all the time. Only thi
spring the governor vetoed and thus killet
the bill making provision for the exhibit o
Utah's products at the Worlds Fair, ant
todoy private citizens are being appealed
to for money to pay the necessary ex pense
that the territory may not be the only ont
of the American commonwealths not ap
pearing in the great international exhibit
ton at Chicago. The Indignation of citi
zens is such over this autocratic action O
an executive sent to US from a state 200
miles distant, that only sense of patriot
ism and local pride will induce them L
come to the relief Of the community an,
loan the money. This is not an overdrawl
statement but the bald facts. Is it not
truth which is stronger than fiction il
these United States?
Under these circumstances is it an,
wonder that the Democracy should declar
and resolve as sbovel Gould they do less
and be in any sense regardful Of tn
rights of the people as America
citizens and members of the grea
/ republicl We ask that the evils be re
moved, and this territory be given tn
rights which belong to an American CON
= unity. 1t is asking little enough, and Cor
gress will be recresnt and cruel if it doe
not grant the honest and earnest appeal O
, the oppressed people of Utah-a people a
, loyal, as patriotic, as law-abiding as an
A. G,,oe 80 +la ca+;o,