The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-10-25
SELLS HAS ACCEPTED.
Old Republican Warhorse Has De-
serted to the Populists.

The Populists are destined to make
very large hole in the Republican vote
this fall. They have been cutting
wide swath in the ranks in the last six
months and leaving the Democratic
party unscathed. One by one the Re-
publicans have fallen, and now the
Populists have nominated old Republi-
can warehouses for governor, for secre-
tary of state and for mayor of Salt
Lake city. Mr.. Elijah Sells, who was
secretary of the territory under Harri-
son, was nominated for mayor some
time ago. and yesterday he sent in a
letter of acceptance, which reads as
follows:
II am in receipt of your letter of the
23d inst. advising me of my nomination
by the city convention of the Peoples
party as their candidate for mayor. I
regret that I have not the time to give
my reasons at length for the views 1
entertain upon the causes that have
brought our fair and beloved country
to it's present condition. ] am just up
on the eve of starting east, on business
of such Importance that I cannot defer
it. I have no desire for Office, but my
conviction is that every man ought to
have patriotism enough to stand in the
breach when the prosperity and growth
of his country are in danger. Thou
sands of patriots went to the rescue of
our country when its life was threat
ened by an internal war, and to save it
lives were sacrificed without limit. We
are now in greater danger than we
were in 1861 to 1860 The moneyed pow
er. combined with the patronage of the
government, are in league to appreciate
their gold and depreciate values in re-
atty, labor and every commodity that is
produced by labor, until we have reach
ed q point where forbearance ceases to
be virtue
at is my opinion that every reading
and thinking man cannot fail to see
that one of the leading wants for a re-
turn to prosperity is the re-enactment
OF the law that was in force up to 1878,
when it was repealed by both of the
national political parties by what is
known as the Sherman act demonetiz-
ing silver The leading politicians who
make platforms and control national
nominations of both old parties are la
boring for and in the interest of the
mcneyed power, and are bittely OPP
posed to the free coinage of silver at
the old ratio of 16 to 1, under which we
were prosperous. The Republican lead
ers, controlled by the power of gold and
the influence of a subsidized press, and
the Democratic leaders by the same in
fiuences, with the added power of the
patronage Of the government, places
! them beyond the reach of the interest
of labor and western prosperity.
Every patriot when his country is
in peril ought to have the courage Of
his convictions and go to the rescue.
Believing as l do that there is no hone
for Improvement in either of the old
parties l feel it my duty to join with a
new organization, and use whatever in
fuence I NAV have i'm building up a
party that will work for the restora ton
of the free coinage of silver ct the ratio
of 16 to l. without reference to the wish
or opinion of the Rothschilds or any
nation under the gold power. The COM
pensation of labor has been destroyed
by the gold policy BY labor all the
necessaries of life are produced-food.
raiment, warmth and facilities for
travel-and with me the interest of
labor stands in the front rank
II therefore gladly join the party of
/ reformation, as the only hope. and ac-
| cept the nomination with which YOU
have honored me. IF by any chance I
should be chosen as mayor of our fair
city. you will get just and honest
administration of affairs and fair treat
ment Of labor with eight hours for a
days work, as far as the power of the
executive is able"