The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-06-25
WATCHING TIE MAYOR.

IHE HERALD has said and it still believes
that tits the ambition Of Mr.. BAsKIN to
leave the mayors Office with good record.
whether or not he will succeed depends
upon his courage to do the right as his in
tehigence points out the right He is
handicapped to certain extent. He owes
ms election largely 10 votes which came
from the element out of which the. law
breakers chiefly come. The bosses of the
party which put him into Office were not
scrupuious as to the source whence they
drew votes. The ballot Of an imported
nooo counted as much as that of the fore
most citizen. The .'bums" aud "soaks"
VINO lounge about the drinking dives were
carefully rounded up in the interest of Mr..
BAsIIN The gamblers were earnest
workers in his behalf, and the sympathies
ana influence Of the prostitutes and their
patrons were all with him, directed by the
party leaders. Because of the peculiar
methods employed, and owing 10 the class
whence so much of his strength came, we
say the mayor is necessarily handicapped
70 certain extent, the sentiment of graft
tude inclining him to reward party
workers who might otherwise be looked
at with suspicion by him, and also
TO be less severe with those to
whom he is indebted when they are
detected in wrong-doing. Nevertheless,
our belief IS that the desire of Mr.. BAsKIN
is TO give fairly good administration and
leave record which will reflect credit on
his name Whether or not he has the
strength to break the strings which were
put upon him by the men and methods
which managed and characterized his cleo
ton campaign, remains to be seen. We
sincerely hope he has, and will say here
that whilst Mr.. BAsKIN is on the wrong
side Of the political fence, this paper will
stand by him in intelligent and honest eff
forts to give this city good government
The other day 1t came out court that
police officer was in some manner interested
in house of ill-fame. The evidence
seemed 10 be sufficient to satisfy the mayor,
who promptly removed the officer. That
was good sign, and gave encouragement
to others than The HERALD that Mr.. BAs-
KIN proposed to be cleaner than his party
Since Their tho air has been full of ugly
rumors concerning the police department,
the very head of the force being involved
in some of these stories. Sworn
statements have been made against
one policeman, charging him with not
merely annoying by his repulsive
attentions one Of the demi monde but with
threatening her life. Accusations against
other officials are that they visit disreput-
able houses and make merry with the in
mstes; 1t is said that quite recently mem
oers Of the city council on a Summing ex-
petition found jolly company Of officials
connected with the police department.
drinking and carousing in g notorious re-
sort Of the lower class There are many
stories CT rottenness in that branch Of the
municipal service to which the public looks
for the enforcement OF the laws. the pro-
lection OF society and the preservation of
the peace. The HERALD does not pretend
to say these rumors are all true We
merely mention that they are current. and
must, as matter of course, reach the ears
of the mayor. We do, however, say it is
his duty to investigate them. and if he finds
them correct we trust that he will be as
prompt and courageous in removing the
offenders IS he was in the case of the
policeman who was said to have
rented rooms for unlawful purposes.
We hope Mr.. BAsKIS will do this even
though he shall offend some of those who
placed him in Office and be charged with
ingratitude by his party.
Salt Lake has not been proud of its
municipal administration lately. There
has been too much crime and too little eff
fort to catch and punish the criminals. The
laxlty Of the government has given en-
enlargement to the criminal and objection
able classes generally to rendezvous here.
There has been succession Of scandals.
and one killing nas resulted from the gen
eral Generalization which characterized
the police administration. We do not
hesitate to say that better things were
looked for under Mr.. BAsKIN's rule. and
better things viii continue to be looked for
unless the mayor shall show that his
sympathy with the ugly element which has
given his political party such strength, is
stronger than his love for law and order;
unless be shall show weakness in dealing
with wrongdoing which people did not
think existed.
Mayor BAsKIN should understand that
the eyes Of the public are on him at this
time His action within the next few days
will be notice to the community that he in
tends to give clean administration, or the
opposite.
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