The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-08-22
IMPORTANT TO ALL UTAH PEOPLE.

We are pleased to know that the sub
ject of good constitution fol the state
Iof Utah is receiving considerable at
tention throughout the territory. 1t is
very important that the convention at
which the constitution will be framed
shall be composed of men representing
/, the various interests Of the coming
state, and capable of exercising sound
| Judgment on all the questions that will
come under discussion.
Readers of The Herald are well
aware that this paper took the posi-
ton in the start that the convention
should be an bipartisan body. That
was because we desired to have an I'M
partisan constitution. We maintained
that there should be nothing in the
organic law of the state that would
specially favor any political party or
religious body or private interest. We
hold to that view now in reference to
the constitution.
AS to the convention 1t appears that
Iour desire cannot be fulfilled. The Re-
publican bosses in the territory have
decreed otherwise. They want Rapub-
lican convention; that is. convention
composed of a majority of Republ.
cans. What for? In order that some of
the peculiar notions of their party may
be Incorporated in the instrument
which is to regulate our state affairs,
and which cannot be amended without
great deal of trouble. That is some
thing that every true friend of Utah
should endeavor to prevent
The only way to head off so improp-
er movement is to send men to the
convention who will not make party
interests their first consideration: men
who will not try to engraft upon our
fundamental law anything that tends
to the interests of one section of the
community; men who will guard the
welfare of the various sections and
parties with equal care; men who VII
not pave the. way to any use of public
funds for private ends.
We therefore earnestly commend to
the consideration of the people of Utah
the necessity of choosing for Delegates
to the constitutional convention able,
committed to any corporate or other
private interest and determined on es-
tablishing as the supreme law of the
state, a constitution that shall secure
equal rights to all, special privileges to
none; and so protect the property and
revenues of the state that they cannot
become the prey of scheming politi-
clans or greedy capitalists. TO make
them rich at the expense of the hardy
toilsss who support the state by pay
ing taxes on the fruits of heir labor.
A majority of Republicans must not
be sent to that convention, for the very
reasons advanced by their own leaders.
A Republican convention means a Re
publican constitution in q party sense.
1t means preparation for foisting uron
the people of the new state all the evils
that have grown UP under Republican
manipulation of national affairs. 1t
means the foisting and fattening of
corporate bodies at the expense of the
masses. 1t means the lavishing of pub
lie funds upon private institutions. 1t
means the enrichment of the wealthy
and the impoverishment of the working
classes, the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the few
and the enslavement of the many
The great body Of the people should
see to it that only such delegates are
sent to that convention as will aid in
securing perfect equality of all classes
before the law, and the expenditure of
public funds for public purposes only.
If they keep that in mind, 1t will GER
tainly not be Republican party con-
vention and we shall not be cursed
with Republican partisan constitu-.
ton.