The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-09-09

partisan movement that has been
launched throughout the state gains
any adherents in Cache county they
Will come from the ranks of the Re
publican party. Interviews with
prominent and representative Demo-
Gratis indicate a unanimous sentiment
against the scheme. During the last
few days your correspondent has Sc
cured expressions from a large number
OF Democrats and the results are given
below:
CHAIRMAN EDWARDS.
William Edwards, chairman of the
county Democratic committee said:
Il am opposed to the Citizens or
partisan movement, as there can
be no such thing as a non-partisan
party. l would call it way wherein
| we might divide up the Offices between
the two parties, and then quarrel for
the next two years, and see who can
be the most partisan. Rather than
such state of affairs I would see
| every office filled with Republicans.
Then the people would have some party
to lay bad government to if there were
such a thing. The Democrats should
put up good straight party men for
office, and if they viii do that 1 have
ATTORNEY NEBEKER.
Frank K. Nebeker, county attorney,
and chairman of the Democratic city
committee expressed himself as fol-
| lows:
There is in my opinion, but one way
for a consistent Democrat to look at
this question, and that is in extreme
! disapprobation. In the first place,
non partisan elections under the
American system are practically i'm
possible So long as there are men
| whose opinions differ upon questions
of governmental policy, those opinions,
| If worthy of consideration, must ulti-
mately crystalize into party princi-
pies. To destroy partisanship, there
| fore, you must destroy individuality
of thought and action among the peo-
pie. Non partisanship, in other words,
| is non-American. Non-partiSan poll
| tics are practically impossible, also,
| from the fact that whatever may be
the name, the reality viii remain the
same. If Democrats are elected under
| the name of -partisans, they will
| be Democrats still. If Republicans are
elected the same rule will hold, with
| the additional advantage, that it is the
Republicans only hope of getting into
office in most of the cities of the state.
And, furthermore, [ am willing to
wager that wherever you will prick a
non-partisan enthusiast anywhere in
the state, from st. George to Logan,
you will hear a wall from the best
known and most active Republican
politician of the district.
"A leopard cannot change his spots.
A Republican politician can change his
| politics, but he seldom does; and When
he masquerades as a non-partisan he
viii bear watching.
In the second place, non-partisan
elections, even if possible, are unneces-
sary. If local reforms are needed let
| the parties express themselves as to
such reforms in their platforms. The
| Democratic party, standing as it does
as the great champion of the peoples
cause today, can also pledge itself to
! high salaries for municipal officers, at
| the behest of the people. And so with
any reform that might be suggested
| by local conditions.
In the third place, non-partisan
elections are politically undesirable.
! Let it be remembered that each minor
election in the state is but company
| drill for the ''irrepressible conflict in
! which the silver forces of the state
must engage in 1900. The Democrats
! have demonstrated their capacity for
| good government in the city, the
| coun\Y, the state and the nation, and
| there is no valid reason why they
should now lend themselves to Re
/ publican political relicts in, their hot
| chase for place and pelf.'
MAYOR N w. KIMBALL.
Mayor Kimban viewed the subject
| in this way:
81 am opposed to it in every par
! ticular. Such a thing is in reality un-
necessary, inexpedient and impossible
! T xr-c.1l
enough satisfied with the record of the
! Democratic party, and can see no
reason for joining a movement that is
characterized by a scramble for office,
| such as the nom partisan movement
! seems to be-"
MAJOR coRDoN's VIEWS.
Major t. B. Gordon, of the National
! Guard Of Utah, when asked for his
views on the non partisan movement,
said:
THE state, county, or municipality
! that entrusts its government to a
mixed or non-partisan administration,
such as would come from the ordinary
! primaries and conventions, as mahipu-
! lated by professional office seekers and
their tools, invites a far more danger
Gus state of affairs than could come
from strict party lines. A non-par-
IlSdn RUE call Oliy JS uSSl1 eAUIC WIACii
brought about by the truly patriotic
instead of the wap-and-spoil citizen. "
COLLECTOR FAIR.
Aaron f. Farr, jr., county collector,
said:
There ara plenty of good and efTici-
ent men and women in both the Demo-
cratic and Republican parties to ill all
I of the offices in the gift OF the people.
Iy011 rfril1 11plr fine LIST
Who are at the head of all these nom
/ partisan, citizens and taxpayers, move
ments, you will find they consist of
! three distinct classes of individuals:
F'irst.-Off1ce-see who have con-
tfnually sought Office from one party
| Or the other; but owing to their inabh-
! ity to fill an Office have not been reccg
njZed.
Second Officeholders VINO have held
al the offices in the gift of their party,
and can see no further chance in the
old party of keeping themselves in
| Office.
Third.-Chronic tax kicl1ers, persons
VINO are constantly kicking about their
taxes; WHO, after beating the assessor
down to half value, go before the board
of equalization every year and have
their property reduced again, until they
emily pay about half AN honest tax.
These are the classes of people who
want nav parties. and I don't glhink
they are any better qualified to look
after the affairs of city, county. state OF
nation than either OF the old PARTIES
OPPOSED BY Gates.
| W. G. Gates, member of the Logan
! city committee. said. When interviewed
! ON The non--artisan movement.
| do I believe in a ncTl-partisan move
nlent? Web, not by any means. These
nom partisan movements are ogtensibly