The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-01-06
BIG NOISE, BUT NOTHING IN IT.

Fraud How The Election Re-
turns Were Doctored," etc, in great
flaring bill poster headlines, mark how
the Tribune still tries to manufacture
sensational matter with which to excite
the public. After reading the startling
announcements Of Forgery and Falsi-
fication of the Lists Outrage on the
people" and the rest of it. the reader
who desires to find the facts wades
through the three or four columns of
type to find the disclosures which
justify the big, black, ugly letters at
the head; but he searches in vain.
The evidence so far has furnished no
proof of fraud. That there has been
some carelessness and bungling, too
little care in the keeping Of the ballot
boxes, and over confidence IN the cor
rectness of the clerical work in the
count, is very evident to the unbiased
observer. But as to any intentional
wrong there is nothing but suspicion
and implication.
Nor has there been anything adduced
to show reason for prohibiting the re-
count of the ballots. In fact it is made
more and more apparent that the full
canvass which the Republicans are try
ing to prevent, is the only method
by which the will of the voters
can be ascertained. That appears now
to be imperative. We believe that all
the examination of witnesses which
has been permitted at this stage of
the inquiry is improper, that the legal
question involved is separate and dis
tinct from everything to which they
have testified. The right of the Com
mission to make the recount under the
conditions disclosed, is entirely indie
pendent of all that the applicants for
mandamus and prohibition have endea-
vored to prove.
But we are in favor of thorough
inquiry into all that has been done
connected with the election. That need
not be stopped if the ballots are coun-
ted a hundred times over. If there
has been any fraud forgery or
Justification of returns" let it be
brought to light and the guilty persons
be punished as the law provides. But
all this noise and the attempts to
bring out in court something TO give
color TO the outcries that have be-
come familiar to the public ear, are
simply political clap-trap. They are
furnished to fill the void occasioned by
the absence Of legal argument on the
part of the petitioners.
The errors in the returns, no matter
how or by whom made, do not affect
either the question of the pow
ers of the Commission or the num-
Der of ballots cast at the cleo
ton. They have not yet been fully
canvassed, and they are what must
determine the rights OF the candidates.
The sooner they are appealed to, the
sooner will the matter be settled. And
there is not a ecintilla of proof that
they have been "tampered" with, as
SO often animated.
The Argus, which at first was led
to believe there was something wrong
because of the noise that was made,
now frankly confesses that though
Much has been said about fraud be-
ing practiced, up to date not an fota
of proof in support of the charges has
been presented" And while there are
ugly rumors afioat,' mot a charge
has been made. but what can readily
be deprived Of its sting by an eNpla-
nation"
Explanation, however, is not what
the clamorers want. 1t is first to stop,