Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-05-04

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| and friendship now, albeit at times we
have had 10 differ with him M ct
radioally as to some OF his official scts'
and have had to crillcise some Of his
measures Of policy. But we have
ever sought t. Judge Of his work
in n spirit which prompts
us 10 recognize differences Of
attitude and education, and no words
have been spoken against him because
Of such differences or fOr any personal
reason. We realize that he has occu.
pied peculiar and In most circum'
stances trying position; but that he
has always sought the bssl Interests
the Territory as no understood them,
and the ultimate welfare OF all her
people, we firmly believe. Hence
carping criticism and vilincatiou have
neither been INDUCED In nor upheld
In others. II speaks well for his
conservatism and prudence that he has
been deemed worthy to hold Office In
the Territory longer than any oher
official we ever had, longer than al.
most any official in any OF the terri
tories; and that Mt tho end he In able to
retire with the Consciousness Of duty
well performed and the respect Of his
fellow citizens IL no slight tribute to
his character. The circumstances
alluded to render appropriate a brief
resume OF his official career, which
covers the mos, momentoul ami, on
the whole, prosperous period Of Uiah'a
history;
Arthur Il. Thomas was appointed In
April, 1879, Secretary Of the Territory
o. Uuh by President Hayes; he was
re'appolnted by President Arthur IN
April, 1883, aud served until April,
1857, eight years In all, n longer period
than any other secretary In the history
Of the Territory.
In 1880 he was appointed Supervisor
Of the Census for tho district of Utah,
and In 1881 was appointed special
agent Of the government TO collect the
statistics OF schools anu churches. In
1884 he was elected by the Legislative
Assembly one Of four commissioners to
compile the laws OF the Territory; and
In 1855 n director OF the Deseret Agri-
cultural and Manufacturing Society.
He was acting Governor OF tho Terri.
tory for all but Ave days Of the Lpgls.
latlye Assembly OF 1882, AMI for one.
half the session Of 1854; was appointed
In December, 1850, member OF the
Utah commission to succeed A. 5.
Paddock, elected U. =. senator from
Nebrnska; aud In April, 1850, no was
rendered by the President the Office Of
Governor OF Utah, and qualified on
May 9th, 1889.
AZ acting Governor In 1854 he ap.
proved the law giving Salt Lake City
the power II now enjoys to control and
regulate the liquor traffic. II will be
remembered that at the time the
Legislature met, In January, 1854, under
the rulings OF tho district court the
liquor ordinances passed by the city
were successively declared invalid, and
the saloons were running every hour OF
the day ani night. MIR. Thomas sent
TO the Legislature n substitute bill,
which was at once passed aud approved;
1t has stood the test OF judicial scrutiny,
and has been taken as the basis upon
which subsequent liquor acts have
heen framed.
In 1885 Acling-Governof Thomas
was placed in trying position by the
action Of tho Federal court in In o
celebrated Hopt case. The court had
refused to perform plain duty and
grant Hopt stay OF sentence, pending
his appeal to the Supreme Court OF the
United States. Hopt appealed to
Aotlng.G1vernor Thomas for res.
plte. The people became greatly OK.
cited and demanded that the murderer
be executed. The streets were
thronged on the morning OF the day
fixed for the execution, and great ma g
meeting was held In the Walk
or Opera House which adopted resolu.
tons demanding that the law be al
lowed TO take It's course and Hopt
be executed. In the face OF this popu.
lar clamor Governor Thomas decided
the prisoner was entitled under the
law to n respite, anu granted it. He
was Mt first severely condemned, but
public opinion rapidly changed, and
his course was applauded. The Su.
preme Court Of the United states sub.
sequcntly granted Hopt now trial,
thus vindioatlng the Governors action
Ia the most pronounced ana authorita.
tive way.
He approved the first absolutely
iroe school law In the Territory, and
has approved many other important