Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-01-30


sensational, and T. keep the public on
the tiptoe OF expectation.
There has been some caucusing OF
the factions, but not halt az much ~
one might suppose from wint IL heard
on the streets ard esii in some
papers, and considerable rumber Of
members of tine assembly have had
little to do with cRucu,us I'D others
do not lattend any. The fact is thai
before ballotiDg began most Of the
members Of the Legislature decided
upon the candidate they woul1 sup.
Port and the policy they would pursue,
ard nearly all Of them have adhered t
their orlginal determination. The
rumora . bargains and breaks, etc.,
havs had very little foundation.
The record OF the ballots that have
been taken shows surprisingly
small fluctuation between the highest
aud the lowest number OF votes each
Of the throe leading ca didetes has TO.
celyed, aud /. also shows that each
has held his following together with
remarkable solidity. rhis sufficiently
proves lhGt the lines laid dowA before
the ballOiing began have been closely
adhered to, anu that 1t Is u stubborn
contest Of the three.coruefed variety,
each corner being resolutely deter.
miaed to take all 1t can get but to let
20 Of nothing until compelled TO do 80,
and all determined that neither Of the
others shall win.
Candor, fairness, mngnanlmity and
n sincere disintereslednes to select
the best man for the high office which
is TO be flied, are elements that 10 not
seem TO enter Into the contest In come
quarters TO any appreclaplo extent.
Rather Its controlling motive appears
10 be seli'wlli and determination to trl.
nmph at any cost. There are members
OF the assembly who are anxious u act
with candor and mugnanimity,O tut are
they In the minority ana u der such q
heavy pressure that they csnnot d. as
they would Wish? DO politicians
rather than patriots control2
There are circumstances when legis-
lators are justified In staining out t,
tho end against corrupt or objec.
iionable candidates VINO may have
control OF political machinery in whole
or In part. But where this opposition
to such candidates comprises solid
party majority Ia legislative body,
there lie no good reason for II to pre-
long o division in 1t, own ranks IN
behalf OF individual clniidates, to
the detriment OF the State. La such
case tho majority has tho power to
make now and Independent choice
whore there are no entangllng or
Objectionable alliances, and the wiser
courss is to do go within reasonable
period. do the Utah legislators think
the time for some such action has moi
been reached yet?
Meantime legislation 10 at stand.
still. Practically nothing la being done
towards the discharge OF tho actual
work Of the seseior, the greatest anu
the gravest that ever confronted
Legislature In this commonwealth.
-Four hundred dollars per day OF the
peoples money is being squandered, as
IL costs that much or more to pay the
salaries OF officers and members and
the expenses OF tho Legislature. AT
the present writing 1t looks as though
this condition might be continued for
aome time yet.
How do the people, who pay the
taxes, and whose interests are at stake,
like this sort OF thing? How long be.
fore they will begin TO insist that their
representatives in the Legislature get
together as intelligent ami patriotic
men should do, and dispatch the busl-
noes OF choosing sensto? Ole day
usually is ample time in which to elect
that officer, and the waste OF time anu
money going on over piece OF bnsl-
nets so simple for sensible men to dis
csarge,ls becoming far from crediIable.