The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-14
THE HeE-PARTI}AK SCHEME.
MEETS WITH OPPOSITION AT
MT. PLEASANT.
The Plan Is Tmpracticable and I'm
desirable. and Is Worked on a
Partisan Basis.

The Herald's opposition to the non
partisan schsne seems to be in line
with the sentiment Of the people
| throughout the state, as shown by re-
Forts from various points that have
been published from day to day. The
movement struck Mt. Pleasant at ex-
actly the same time that it appeared
elsewhere, and a correspondent of the
Pyramid makes this vigorous protest:
There has been some talk recently
as to the advantages of a "non-parti-
SAN election of city officers this fall
It certainly cannot be that any great
number of our citizens favor such
scheme; in fact, We are confidant that
a great majority, upon mature thought
and consideration, will reject the prop
osition as inDracticable and undesir-
able. One of the main reasons given
in favor of the move is that a better set
OF officers can be chosen from both par
ties than from, the one. This is very
Questionable. TO say the least.
We cannot bring ourselves to the
conclusion that Mt. Pleasant. with her
evident thrift and business enterprise,
IS so devoid Of talent that she is not
able to select enough capable men to
make u two good tickets-yes. even
five times two tickets. if necessary.
It is a mistaken idea to suppose we
are going TO get the best officers in
this way. In nearly every place
where the experiment has been tried it
has met with indifferent success. TO say
the least. and in many instances has
absolutely failed.
Where political parties are organ
lied and partisan feeling exists, it
is next to an impossibility to arrange
a satisfactory ticket. craftsmanship Will
crop out. In proof of this we need but
listen to the arguments of the advo-
Gates of the ''non-partisan" scheme.
They tell you at once that it is the de-
sire TO divide the city offices equally,
or nearly so, between the two parties,
giving each a due share. Now, just
think of this proposition. Here we
have the strongest advocate of the
non partisan" move working upon q
purely partisan basis to begin With.
Is the choice of candidates left to the |
citizens? Does this look like a mon
partisan?" Is it not rather a strictly
partisan arrangement. each party get |
ting half loaf, instead of the one get |
ting the whole? If this idea was car |
ried out as proposed, the result is evil |
dent-we should be compelled to cast |
our ballots for at least one-half Of the |
persons named on the ticket without /
udNiuS u1Q tle opportunity u NOlClHS
our choice IN caucus.
1t must be admitted that this is
the only way in which the two parties
can agree on such a proposition, but it
can be readily seen that it is far from
being .non-partisan; in fact, it is par
tisanship absolutely pure"
Leaving the above proposition. let
us lock into another. Let the choice
be made in a caucus of citizens. they |
Lot 81 h. 1lr-4 s,.,.o 1
i've of political belief. The plan has
been tried repeatedly in various places,
and almost invariably the best men"
we're found to be getting the vote of the
members of their own party. If a con-
est should arise, it would always be
decided on a strict party vote, and dis
be the result.
We repeat that where there is party
and where partisan feel
ng exists, no satisfactory results can
,e attained from the SO called ''no-par-
isan" elections, and we are confident
hat upon mature thought and consid-
ration the vast majority of the citi-
ems of Mt. Pleasant will reject this
non partisan scheme as impractic-
BILE and undesirable.
We need no great reforms here: our
ublic funds have not been squdndered; l
raudS and robbery in public offices
ave not taken place; the city dads s
ave not sunk the city in debt. but on
he contrary, have been accused Of
ownright parsimoniousness; no dis l
inction has been made in the employ {
lent Of men TO do city work in favor of
Official belief, but all have received /
ue consideration. e
We are not, therefore, placed in I
hese regards as some places are, and :
need no radical change. :
et US conduct our coming city election
trictly upon party lines, and let the
Majority rule. e