The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-26
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.


reorganize the party, an effort is beng
made to disorganize it,
A primary election has been called
for tomorrow night, at which none but
Democrats will be allowed to vote,
which is certainly fair for Democrats.
The qualification of an elector at this
election is in accord with the rule laid
down by the Democratic state commit
tee and is very simple, in that it re-
stricts the right of suffrage to Demo-
Gratis, which is certainly reasonable.
Many of the gentlemen who are lead
ing in this movement are estimable
men, but bad partisans, because in
their zeal TO accomplish their purpose
they disregard well-founded rules of
party government. One in particular,
Mr.. T. J. Kiesel, oftimes goes across
lots politically, and while he has stood
by his party, like Bismarck of his ma
tive land he has often been out of hui
NOR because the party persisted in go
ing contrary to his wishes He is an
enthusiast for a friend when he es-
,,9uses his cause in any line, and there
is no end to his efforts to help friend
under any and all circumstances Thus
it was his admiration for Governor
AItgeId of Illinois that induced him to
undertake the herculeau task of having
the constitution of the United States
SO amended that a foreign-born citizen
could be elected president. The size
of the undertaking never deters him,
yet he sometimes, makes mistakes;
therefore, it is not surprising that he
should undertake to reorganize the
party in Weber county, and because
of his desire to help a friend, try to
remodel the party machinery so that
he can procure the election of someone
other than a Democrat to the United
States senate.
State Senator Shurtliff is another
gentleman who, while he feels under
obligations to his party, will do all in
his power to bring his party into har-
mony with his views, so that he may
be consistent in the course he pursues.
He is not an intense partisan; he is
often liberal in his views and generous
30 fault. He has long been one of the
party leaders in Weber county, and
while he has differed from his party
associates, never until this occasion
has he been very active in his opposi-
ton to the regular organization. In
this instance it is probably due to the
fact that he was one of the original
advocates of fusion that he is SO in
tense in his desire to revive it and force
it to the front. The judges position
is certainly inconsistent with his De-
mocracy, and unless he is changing his
opinions in this regard-which we
doubt-he should change his course.
We are considerably surprised at Judge
Shurtliff, because some of his princi-
pal co-laborerS in this campaign of dis
ruption were not in favor with him last
fall in the municipal campaign. The
Herald did not approve of the methods
which these people made use of then.
We do not believe they have reformed
or grown better politically, nor do we
believe the judge has much faith in
their political integrity. He doubted
the quality of their Democracy then,
and we do not believe he thinks any
better of it now. The Democracy of
Weber county, and especially of Ogden
City are fully aware of the fact that
many men who are engaged in this eff
fort to disrupt the Democratic party
are actuated by selfish motives, and
while they will look with charity upon
Judge Shurtliffs connection with the
movement, they will not follow his
lead, and they should not.
Hon. A. j. Weber is very active in
this affair, and in manner he is ex-
cusable, for his efforts are in the in
terest of fusion. He is an Iowa Demo-
crat, and for many years, while he
was active in the party in that state,
Democrats were SO hopelessly in the
minority that they would make almost
any kind of a combination against Re-
publicans. 1t became second nature
for him to do that sort OF thing, and
now he is not exactly responsible for
his acts, although if he would stop to
consider the matter he would find it is
not just the thing to combine against
his own party.
The Democrats of Weber county
should consider this matter carefully,
remembering that in no other portion
of the state is it proposed to elect
Democrats to the legislature who will
vote for anyone but a Democrat for
United States senator. That is the
bone of contention in Weber county,
and it has no place in a Democratic
primary or convention. 1t is not con-
sistent with Democratic principles to
cast odium upon members of the party
because they insist that all who take
part with them in the management and
control of the affairs of the party shall
be true to the cause. The man who is
for preserving the integrity of the par
ty has the best of the argument when
accused OF disloyaltY, and is justified
in using all honorable means to pre-
vent the disruption of the party. 1t is
not inconsistent with Democratic prin-
ciples TO take such precautions as will
prevent those who are trying to over
turn the party organization by making
someone the beneficiary of the party
action who does not owe allegiance to
the party, from doing so. If there is
only one man who stands true to the
party under such circumstances, his
rights must be preserved inviolate, and
he would be recognized as being pos
sessed of all the party authority in his
community according to the rules of
party government in county, state and
nation.
LETTER FROM CORPORAL TYNE,