Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-11-17
Tar Ninth COUNCIL coSlEsL

TAI NiNTu COUNCIL CONTEST
The NEws has neither space nor
inclination 10 carry on much Of a con-
troyouy concerning the Seulcy.G Green
wood Legislative contest from the
ninth council district u this Territory.
IL takes occasion 10 say, however
that the insinuation OF a cotomporaty,
that this paper looks ut the matter
through Republican speotaclss, l. both
contemplate aud false. n our We've
upon any matter are incorrect, II h not
because Of distortion resulting from
political glasses. We do not wear any
thing u the kind, and will not. II
this gives Ufsnso 10 some esteemed
readers and Contemporaries, they mpy
continue 10 deny but we shall continue
To demand, the credit that belongs 10
fairness AuI Independence Of thought
and expression. We shall endeavor TO
err As little as possible, ana never
through partiaa nsnip or dishonesty.
once again, Therefore;
The contest, rs We undorptand II, IL
based upon the claim that Mr. Sooloy,
being Foderai OfiiciAi, IL ineligible
as n legislator. The NEWS IL not
arguing this question Of the gentle.
man's ineligibility at all. That part
OF the case hasn't concerned w In thu
least. He may have been aud may
still bo disqualified by reason VI his
probate juJgeship. Or his reported
resignation may, or may not, have re.
moved the uisqualIncat on, II any
such thing existed. We presume that
II he 10 really disqualified he viii not
occupy seat In tho next Council. We
certainly think he ought not 10. We
have no objection to contest which
shall settle this poiut. On tho con-
trary We applaud II. Ineligible per-
sous should not run for Office. The
Labor, expense and too frequent acri.
mony OF u campaign should not DO IN
Cured without a reasonable certainty
that the candidates are capable anu
qualified in every way for tho offices
10 DO filed. But ~ after
all has been done, II should be
found that the successful man IL
by law di,quahnei, -oven At that late
day It IL better 10 rule him out than to
permit him 10 act with n naw In his
title, bis official acts consequently be-
ing Irregular.
Now as TO Mfr. Greenwood; He Il
doubtless the persou, us opponent Of
Seelry, to call In review the Al,ef's
eligibility. II there IL reasonable
doubt ON tho question, II Is his duty to
do this, aud he may DO It with all
propriuly, dignity, and disintcrestol.
ness. Ia the present instance, the con.
teHlaut possesses these attributed it h
not charged " believed that he wants
any unfair advantage OF his opponent.
In calling attention to what he oousid.
ers fatal dei,cli In his opponents case,
he does nothing dishononUle; In fact,
the contest he makes viii In all pToba-
bility be valuable, for thereby the
Territory will DOUBTLESS escape future
complications Of like character that
might plague It.
Now, however, we come 10 the
point where the attitude OF tho NEWS
IL criticised. Il 10 claimed that MT.
Greenwood, even though he received
minority Of the votes, is elected by
reason Of 5selyy's incliglbility. We
cay he Is not. IL surguud that though
seeley may have received tue major.
ny Of the votes, sull hts inehgiuilily
maxi b Greenwood Che man, who, being
eligible, Is elected, We contend that
serley's iuelgiUiiity does not give
Greenwood any more votes thau 90
tuch iueIIgiuiluy lid uOt cAsl-iu
other words, tnat a minority cauuu, o..
ghaugo4io maI1uty oy ihy mvr, hrJ
chat tho candidate OF the latter ia uls.
quuAhgi. ~ contend further shat .
man who receives minority s mo-,
lawfully elected What ul luu M..
two words mean. II they do not
mean q majority OF legal yo,e2 Aud
does tbr disqualification Ola candidate,
or ha dga.u oven, aIrc. tuo legality ol
tho votes ..sI .lr mu?
We accept the ImmIuI y-lIurUI.d
fact that ia tur case al issue SrrIry hun
majority. lfhe hasu'I, then what is
the contest iol2 Tue seeming stress
laid by a oolsmpIrary upon the state.
ment that Mr., Greenwood "grcu we'd o.
low less than the Ineligible canIi IaJs''
Us merely begging the question. II he
reeelvni ono loss no Is a. much do.
IeaIed a. II hs ha received hfsoen