The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-01-28
THE OPPOSITION TO MR. PRATT.

The Salt Lake Tribune, in its effort to
override public opinion and force Mr.
Arthur Pratt on this community as
chief of police, as usual assails the in
tegrity and honesty of every one who
opposes its efforts.
It might as well be understood nov
that a very large number of respect
able people in this state do not believe
that all the purity, all the honesty, all
the truth, all the wisdom or all the
courage in the journalistic world is to
be found in or about the Salt Lake
Tribune. 1t may be a painful fact.
and we may be cruel to mention it, but
it is true, nevertheless, that the infu-
ence or Importance of an individual or
newspaper can not be properly meas
ured by their own estimate of them
selves, but rather by the reputation
they bear among the people of the
community. BY that rule a great many
do not amount to half as much as they
may have persuaded themselves TO be-
lieve they do, and they are forced to
admit. to themselves at least, that they,
or their opinions, can not pass current
at a greater valuation than the world
at large is willing to accept.
The Salt Lake Tribune is a good
newspaper, but it is not the only craft
on a journalistic sea in these parts
that is worthy of respect. It's guns
make considerable noise, it is true, but
it's chief gunner's aim must be bad
because its shots go wide of the mark
most of the time Of late. The Herald
has openly and deliberately opposed Mr..
Pratt for chief of police, and for raa-
sons which it has stated in plain Ian
guage. 1t may be beyond the colnpre-
hension of the Tribune to understand
how it is possible for any one to be
opposed to a man. for a public Office,
for political reasons, or on the ground
of public policy, without at the same
time bearing him personal malice. 1t
is true, nevertheless.
The old days of personal journalism
have vanished or are vanishing very
fast. The personal animosity Of an edi-
tor to a person or thing is no longer
the proper guide for the course of any
paper that honestly wishes to become
a power in the land. The Herald is
not infallible, neither is the Tribune;
both are conducted by poor, weak NOR
tails made of clay. 1t does not Of neces-
sity. follow that because an artist draws
a cartoon the more clearly to illustrate
a condition, or a writer states d fact
regarding an individual that may be
disagreeable. that the artist was actu-
ated by malice or the writer harbored
bitterness in his heart.
The Tribune is incensed because The
Herald, in support of the party of
which it is the organ, urges the Demo-
cratic members of the city council to
prevent, if possible, a man being re-
warded with an official position who is,
from a Democratic standpoint, an Of
fensive partisan. as the term is used in
politics. To apply the term Offensive
partisan to Mr.. Pratt is no insult to
him personally. Aside from the politi-
cal opposition to Mr. Pratt, The Her.
aid is opposed to him on the ground of
public policy; because, as we have said
before, whether justly or unjustly ac-
cused, very many good, reputable citi-
zens of this city think that his days
of usefulness as chief OF police, have
passed. and that, taking everything
into consideration, some other man
should be appointed. Many people who
have the highest regard for Mr.. Pratt !
as man, think that he ought to re-
tire; and without doubt his truest
friends will so advise him.
The Tribune is at present engaged |
in making war upon County Clerk Dun
bar, but we should dislike to think that |
back of all it says is a heart ranking /
with bitterness in which dwells deep /
personal hatred of Mr.. Dunbar. We /
are charitable enough TO believe that |
the opposition to Mr.. Dunbar is purely |
political and attaches TO his position as
chairman of the Democratic city COM
nittee, and because, as such chairman,
he has worked against Mr.. Pratt. ANY
,ther motive would be beneath the dig
lity of any reputable journal The
Ierald's opposition to Mr.. Pratt is po-
itical and nothing else.