The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-31
SENATORIAL %DEFAMERS.


n peculiar attitude OF many candl-
dates-or their friends-together with
many utterances in the Salt Lake
press, are not calculated to incline the
public to any great respect for the po-
sition of United States senator, soon
to be filled from this state. On the
contrary, in most cases, the impression
seems growing hat a great bargain
sale is about to commence, and where
this view of the coming contest is not
entertained, there is little doubt that,
as a result of reading the papers, the
prevailing notion will be that a great
joke is about to be perpetrated in the
selection of a senator to the United
States senate from Utah.
1t may be granted that this is not
the editorial view, but opinions are not
always created, neither are impress
sions fixed, by the reading of editorials.
To read the jeers and 1ibes and inuen-
does, called squibs, in the political col
umns of h capital press, and it can
not be otherwise. than hat the levity
in which the subject of the senatorship
is nearly always discussed, must pro-
duce an equally degenerate notion on
the part of most citizens in respect to
the important Office soon to be filed by
the retirement of Senator Frank j.
Cannon.
But, more pernicious still, is that I'M
dercurrent of sentiment in the conVer-
sation of so many busying themselves
in the senatorial campaign, and which
is reflected in the columns of the Salt
Lake Tribune, that the position may
be had for the buying. This is not
only a villainous insult to the senaz
torial aspirants, but it is a direct re-
Election on the honesty of every mem
Der of the observation-disclosures those
willingly %intimating that the position
may be had by the purchase of mem
beTS, lack the hardihood to intimate,
even remotely, which of the members
can be purchased; and the reflection
is, therefore, upon all. 1t is an indirect
reflection on the sense or the political
morality of the voters of this state,
since the charge that representatives
selected by them can be bribed-
whether by money or other considera-
ton is of no consequence-would indi-
cate that voters did not know the
character of men they chose; or,
knowing them, were Indifferent to their
characters.
1t is a safe presumption hat behind
each of the candidates will be members
of the legislature concerning whom not
even the bitterest outside hacker of a
different candidate dare intimate po-
litical purchase. Every s~elf-respecting
legislator, in personal defense, must
desert a amp in which the argument
referred to is used, for by remaining in
it he acquiesces in the charge of po-
litical forehandedness against his fell
low-legislators; and hence men must
view with suspicion those who are so
ready to believe an immoral thing of
fellow members of the same body.
1t is the earnest wish of this paper
that those candidates who allege such
a contingency as the sale of the sena-
torship in this state may be defeated
in their aspirations, deserted in their
contest, and damned in their political
careers. The best man may not always
have been chosen in this state, but no
Doodle has ever entered into any cleo
ton to an important position. It is
devoutly to be hoped that it never may.
Those opponents of Mr.. McCune who
permit this base intimation against
the honorable candidacy of a large
Drained, a large-hearted, upright man
by their followers, are destined to a
certain and inglorious defeat.
The position of United States senator,
whatever ~disgraceful associations may
be connected with the title elsewhere,
is still an honorable one. No real lover
of his country could bring the position
into contempt by trif1ing references to
it and intimations of dishonesty, be-
cause such references prepare the pub
lie mind to accept the selection of a
trifler and a boodler to fill the position.
Men seeking the Office who make light
references to their opponents, or who
are willing that their opponents shall,
by inuendo, be referred to as place
purchasers, can themselves be no big
ger than triflers and no better thar
boodlers. From all such may the po-
litical fates save this state!