The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-10-05
NOW, AND THEN.
position,

1t is amusing to see how our morning
neighbor turns this way and that, fights
thing one month and defends it the
next, abuses a man in one breath and
praises him in another, and plays the
journalistic acrobat whenever pushed to a
definite point.
Only two or three weeks ago it had no
words strong ard bitter enough to express
its wrath and indignation against the
Liberal administration in this city, past
and present. Now it is engaged in apollo
giving for the same outfit and loading it
down with eulogies.
1t is not long since it ridiculed and lam
pooned Judge Bartch as totally incapa-
bic person to occupy the position of dis
trict judge. Now it exalts him as the es-
sence of judicial wisdom for his ruling in
case which, while it fits into the Liberal
organs purpose, is at variance with the
position taken by that organ, and the fac
ton it represents, four years ago.
If all that is necessary to establish a
person S right to registration is the fact
that he has been in the Territory six
months and in the precinct one month,
though he can show no permanent
residence but admits his intention to re-
move when work is not found for him,
then former rulings count for nought,
and any tramp may exercise equal cleo
toral privileges with the resident citizen
and taxpayer.
In the cases referred to of nearly four
years ago, the parties who were denied
registration proved their permanent
residence in the Territory, many OF them
having been born here; they also proved
their residence in the precinct for much
more than one month; and they expressed
their intention to remain here, some of
them permanently and who are here
now, and others as long as they could OBJ
tain employment. Why were they re-
fused their statutory rights? Simply be-
cause they were not Liberals. But the
allegation was that they were not bona
fde residents within the meaning of the
law.
1t was surmised that they had come in
to this city to vote, and that they would
not support the party for which the reg
istration officers labored so diligently,
and which rewarded their partisan servi-
ces. The kind of objections against those
voters were these: number of them
were lodging together in small house.
Some of them had parents living in dis
tant counties, and it was assumed that
their home was with their parents, be-
caase they were unmarried. Others had
at previous election registered where
they came from, and this was construed
as evidence that they still resided there.
In other cases it was alleged that they
would leave the city soon after election.
The only shadow of legality in the pre-
tended reasons offered for their rejection
was, that though they had resided in
the precinct thirty days, and in the
territory six months, their in
city their permanent residence, but that
they had come here merely to get work
and vote and then go away; that is, that
''their residence here was temporary
In the ruling of Judge Bartch in the
LETTER case, nothing as to intent or as to
the establishment of actual residence, in
the accepted legal definition of the term,
was given, but the bare presence or So
journ in the city of a person during the
periods named was held as qualifying him
for registration. That we contend is the
very opposite of what the Tribune held
during the registration of 1889 80. And
under such ruling every one of the per-
sons then refused registration on the
ground of non-residence ought to have
been registered, even ii all that the Lib
erals alleged about them was true.
THE HERALD is not to be brow beaten
from correct position by any black
guardism or personalities. 1t is the prac-
tice of the Tribune, when it is confronted
with its own blunders and inconsistent
! cies, to snap and froth like cornered
car. and having no argument to offer and
being too unmanly to acknowledge an
error, resort to personal attacks which it
knows will meet with no response IN kind.
1t is one of the meanest forms of coward
ice. and one of the characteristics that has
made that sheet SO contemplate to re-
spectacle people.
THE HERALD has not offered any insult
to Judge Bartch in criticising his ruling
in this case. No insults to the gentleman
| have been offered In any paper In the ter
ritory. SO far as we are aware, except the
Salt Lake Tribune. If it is necessary we
can again quote that paper against itself,
and show once more It's utter inconsis-
tency.
AS to striking names from the registra-
ton lists, If several hundreds are not
erased it will be evidence that the regis
tration officers have not done their duty.
for it is notorious that this is necessary to
fair election, and the law provides for
and requires it. THE HERALD wants
every citizen who has the legal qualifica-
tons, to have the opportunity to vote at
the November election, but does not
think that persons who, from their own