The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-01-01
LET THE RULE WORK ROTH WAYS.

Tt will be disgrace to Utah if its
Constitutional Convention shall con-
tain members the legality Of whose
right to a seat is to say the least ques-
tionable"
That is from the Park City Record,
which on this question, of course,
merely echos the confusing sounds that
come from the Republican sheet Of
sounding brass in this city. 1t is
the concluding sentence of a para graph
rejecting upon the Utah Commission,
in that vague and misleading way
which seeks to damage without being
liable for damages.
But we are pleased to endorse the
sentiment contained in the sentence
we have quoted. It contains a good
rule, for 1t will work both ways, That
was not intended. to be sure, but does
so, all the same. Our Republican
friends profess to be greatly Shocked
at the very idea OF a Democrat being
permitted to occupy a seat in the Con-
stitutionai Convention, whose right to
that seat to say the least is question
able" But they have not the slightest
conjunction Of conscience at the prob
ability of a number of Republicans OBJ
tanning seats in that convention, whose
rights to them are very clearly in ques-
ton, and who are so afraid Of investi-
cation that they are determined if pos
sible to stop all inquiry.
Afidavits were filed before the can
vass was made which the Utah Com
mission are required by law to COM
plete before certificates of election are
issued, to the effect that the returns
were incorrect and that the rights of
candidates were affected by the errors
therein. This made the right of those
been improperly credited with Demo
cratic votes. to appear ITO say the
least, very questionable.
Now, what was the proper proceed
ure under these circumstances? The
law points out the way. The Comrnis-
sion proceeded as the law provides
The Republican manipulators at once
tried to shut off all inquiry. That is
what they are still endeavoring to eff
feet. That is what the court proceed
ings are for. Suppose they were to be
successful. Suppose the Utah Commits
sion were to be required to accept the
| returns, which show so many irreg-
| ularities and discrepancies as to put
the election of certain candidates in
doubt. Would not those Republicans
who gained their seats under these cir
| cumstances occupy them with a right
| which to say the least is unquestion-
able?"
| We take the ground that the only
way to put the right of the contestants
to the seats claimed by each party
| beyond question, is to count the bal
lots and give certificates, as the laH-
provides, to those candidates "who, be-
! ing eligible, shall appear to have been
lawfully elected" We fail to see that
there is any other way.
The talk about "tampering with the
| ballot boxes is all for the purpose OF
preventing the investigation which Is
the one way of settling the rights o:
candidates FOR whom the votes were
very close, to seats in the convention
There has not as yet been brought
! forward one iota of evidence to show
that there has been any such tam
pering" OF suspicious, charges insin-
uations, buster, threats and buncombe
here has been a profusion. But they
are all that the hubbub amounts TO.
The whole cutlery IS a game of bluff
1t will rot answer the purpose. If, as
IS alleged, there are few Democrats
who have expressed fears lest there Is
something improper in the proceedings
to decide the rights Of candidates. il
| is because they have been "bluffed'
| by Republican bloviating and balder
| dash. We do not believe there is any.
thing Of the kind of a serious nature
among Democrats, ana every preten
! ded quotation from them which ha.
| been followed up by inquiry, ha.
turned out to be Tribune fabrication
| The Herald desires that no one shall
occupy a seat in the constitutional
Convention who has not a clear right
and legal title to take it. That this
nay be placed beyond reasonable dis
pute, we favor full and complete in
tyestigation. That is the whole mat.