The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-01-04
THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL

Assuming that Mayor Clark will pre-
sent to the council tonight important
appointments, including that of CHIEF
of police, the record of today's local po-
litical history will indicate whether OF
not the mayor desires behind him the
cordial support of the whole people. In
discussing the respective powers and
duties of the council and mayor, in
view of the composite results of the
last election, The Herald yesterday OBJ
served that "the mayor should not send
to the council for confirmation the
name of any one who is, for any rea-
son, repugnant to the majority of the
council" If the mayor sends in a name
which he knows in advance will not
only arouse the active opposition of a
politically hostile council, but will be
distasteful to a large body of our citi-
zens as well, upon him viii be the re-
sponsibility for whatever of discord and
evil shall ensue.
These remarks are especially appli-
cable to the case of Mr.. Pratt. This
gentleman has been the storm-center
of personal and political strife for an
indefinitely long time in the past. He
has succeeded in arraying against him
self enmities powerful enough to in
volve in turmoil. suspicion, litigation
and needless expense the whole admin
istration of our police department. to
which our people look for peace and
protection, rather than strife. In ad-
dition to this, in the minds of a great
many citizens, he is the object of those
prejudices which always follow a man
in a community wherein he has been
an office seeker of many years stand
ing. The Herald does not consider it
necessary to inquire into the various
causes Of this condition of affairs. In
fact, it assumes a stand as a friend of
the people in demanding that the whole
pestiferous question shall be laid aside
with the old administration and the old
year; that such causes, revolving
around the personality of a man, shall
not be again dragged into the arena
for two more years of conflict, to the
detriment of public welfare.
Mr.. Pratt's friends may urge that he
is the innocent victim of persecution.
But when did it become the business of
government to provide public offices as
a means Of vindication? What guaran-
tee have the people that the beneficial
ries OF such vindications will not log
ically construe their positions as also
furnishing the means of Furnishing their
Within the scope of the
mayors vision does no man appear
who viii enter upon the duties of chief
Of police free from previous entangle-
ment? Is there no man in this COM
city a good police service, with his
energies solely directed to the future,
and not weakened by the past? The
Herald has faith to believe that the
mayor, in his wisdom, has already re-
the absurdity of beginning
new reform administration under any
adverse conditions inherited
from previous administratic If our
confidence shall prove misplaced, the
council will still have its duty to per-
form, and in our opinion will prove to
have acted the part of the mayors
friend if it shall refuse to allow the
city government to be so handicapped.
But in that case the council may
have another phase of the situation to
consider The Herald believes that a
arge majority OF the immediate sup
porters of Mr.. Clark and the pro-
noters of his election, do not hold the
views of this community upon the
vital subject of national financial re-
'orm. Mr.. Pratt, besides being a skill
,ul politician and possibly endowed |
with the political generalship that else |
where produces the political boss" is /
/ sympathizer with that view of Nc
Sinley bimetallism which was over |
defeated in this state and |
:ity. This is the only honorable infer
,nce that can be made, as to Mr.. /
oratt's position, from his application /
o the president for the appointment |
# United States marshal of Utah. The i
Herald wants to know whether it is a
luty incumbent upon the council, or
lpon Democrats generally, to assist in
he building up in this city of any per-
onal or political clique or coterie of
nen, acting as a political machine for |
uture political use against the adj
lerents of the Chicago platform? The
lext national combat will be fight to
he political death, and no stone will
,e left unturned by INSCRIPTIONS poll
icians, backed by millions Of corrupt
ng wealth, to secure the vote of Utah
or the gold standard. Not only this,
,ut the next United States senator
rom this state may have the casting
-ote in financial legislation. The Her
Id maintained, throughout the NUM-
ipal campaign, that back of the cry
f on-partisanship lurked secret
angers to the silver cause in this
tate. And all silver men-whether
Democrats or former Republicans
hould weigh well the possible conse-
uences of acts involving measures or
nen that may be reasonably suspected
o contain future political harm to
heir cause.