The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-03-07

convention was desired, that a par
tisan constitution might be framed.
The proceedings thus far in the con-
Vention have been conducted in that
spirit.
The purpose in tranpiin6 upon all
known rules Of right and reason as to
preliminary organizations OF legisla-
tive bodies, was to force upon the con-
vention the scheme evolved in Republi-
can caucus. John Henry Smith Was
chosen, as part of the scheme. to be the
President Of the convention, although
his election was in doubt and ne had no
certificate. which the law of Congress
makes the only evidence of election.
That choice was, as admitted by ardent
Republicans, not for his special adap-
! liability FOR the position, but as "a sop
to the Mormon element and to pre-
cent the division which might arise
as to any other Republican candidate.
| That was why it was determined TO
force him upon the convention in the
/ irregular, unparliamentary and Illegal
way which has prevailed. Everybody
who understands the matter and does
! not speak falsely. admits the proceed
inSS were wrong in principle. The
committee on credentials were forced
! by the Republican majority to assume
functions which could not be properly
exercised except by a committee ap-
pointed in q fully organized body. But
to put the man picked out in the chair.
he had to be made a member even
though he had no lawful evidence of
election.
The spread-eagIe oratory about the
disfranchisernent of the people fn the
Third precinct was 50 much fustian.
Those people could have had their
rights of representation secured i'm the
regular, legal and proper way. When
the convention had been permanently
organized, the same results as to seat
ing the members could have been
achieved ana the scandalouS proceed
avoided. But that would have kept
John Henry Smith back until after the
permanent organization, and that
would have spoiled the Republican
partisan arrangement, The forcing Of
| the issue in the temporary organize
ton, then, was not for any public
good, or public interest, or public prin-
ciple, but to secure the working of the
Republican party machine.
The organization of the convention
with a President in the chair having
no credentials emitting him even to a
geat in that body, and with officers all
determined upon on q partisan basis,
makes the body a partisan organiza-
ton; ana now we shall see whether 1t
viii frame a partisan constitution. II
that shall prove to be its work, good
bye to statehood for an indefinite
period!
Even Republicans cannot feel proud
of the first days proceedings under
organized party management. no one
Jealous Of the reputation of the state
can read the account of Wednesday,
dofngs without a sense of shame II
vas more of q farce or burleSQue
than elaboration upon the vital ques.
tons of the hour. and was conducted
in a slip-shod manner Which we trust
viii not be repeated.
: In the partisan character Of the
organization of this convention, &
must be plain to all onlookers that
, what has been said about the unscru-
pulous character Of the Republican
party is correct. To effect a, partisan
, end, resolved upon under pressure Of
, the machine, right and wrong cut nc
figure. In the language of ingalls,
"Get there" is the only policy.
Let US hope that having obtained
I what thaV nttnuptnd in CIIph q dic.
reputable manner, they will nov rele
gate their extreme partisanship anC
rough-rtding circus tactics to the rear
and that fairness to all and the inter
ests Of the public viii be the prime
consideration. Then the scheme OF the
first proceedings viii pass into com
paratiVe silence. and the pleasure Of
beholding a splendid constitution vii
cast all else into the shade.