The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-17
NOW FoR THE FRAY.


The senatorial contest is on. 1t be-
gins in earnest today. At 2:SO this af-
ternoon the first ballot viii be taken
in the separate houses. Tomorrow
they viii meet in joint session at high
loon to report the result. and, if neces-
sary, to ballot again.
1t is not at all likely that a senator
viii be elected today. or tomorrow, or
even next day. The struggle may con-
tinue for weeks. It took f|fty-three
ballots to elect the junior senator from
Utah. 1t may require as many to
name his colleague. But there is a diff
ferenU fight this year.. In all proba-
bility the number of ballots taken will
not exceed ten. Still, no n can tell.
While the entire responsibility of the
election rests upon the Democratic
party. it is a matter in which all the
people of the state are interested, ir-
respective of political affiliations.
Two things should be kept in mind
III SGlGGAAl6 q SQCGGSSUI ~ 0GldlpL
Cannon The advancement of the in
terests of the state, and the welfare
of the Democratic organization in
Utah. In the development of the state
all are interested. In the establish
ment of Utah Democracy upon a firm,
substantial basis. a majority of the
people are greatly concerned. But
there are those to whom neither Of
these considerations appeal very
strongly.
There is an organ published in this
city whose predictions are Republic
an, but whose conduct has beer such
that members OF its party disclaim all
connection with it. This q~uasi-Repub-
ncan sheet is interested in its own lit
tie schemes far more than it is in the
Republican or any other party. II is
engaged at present in advertising the
state as a den of corruptionists and
persistent law-breakers. 1t has never
lost an opportunity to SOW the seeds
OF discord among the people, among
Democrats, or even among Republic
ans, where it had a private snap in
view, or a personal grudge to work.
1t is not a party organ, strict
~ speaking. but the organ of
a boss, a typical boss, whose motto
is rule or ruin, and who aspires to be
the dictator Of at least one church and
two political parties in this state.
Whether these ambitions viii be graft
fed remains to be seen. Whether to
the list of n~on-partisan appointments
in the city, concessions wrested from
a Democratic council, administration
plums distributed with the co-opera-
ton and consent Of a Republican presi-
dent, a senator is to be added, rests
with the present legislature to deter
mine For it not only has a candidate
it would like to elect, but, for obvious
reasons, in pursuing its selfish policy,
it has singled out one it would prefer
to have defeated.
Members of the legislature who are
interested in the state, who would pre-
fer peace TO sto1sn, who would rather
encourage development than devilment,
who, in snort, are able to see through
the mask the organ of the opposition
wears, when it tenders them advice
and profers its assistance in the selec-
ton of a senator. VIII be aided in their
search for light by turning away from
the organ Of rising storms and dark
clouds.
Let legislators vote their individual
views. As citizens, without regard to
party, let them seek the counsel Of
other fair-minded citizens, if they want
counsel. Or, if they would be partisan,
let Democrats look to Democrats, and
Republicans look to real Repub-
leans. But neither to selfish schem-
ers who care not for state or
party, who add nothing to the
wealth of the one or the stand
ing Of the other, and whose only use
for the people is to suck their blood to
gain strength with which to fight them.
But there is no excuse for a pro-
traeted struggle like that Of two years
ago. If members have made pledges
they should not disregard them. If
they are bound by instructions they
should heed them. Yet, we take it that
no man has surrendered the right to
exercise his best judgment in emergen-
cies. The progress Of legislation should
not be hindered, or the choice of a SEN
ator made impossible, by holding to
preferences based upon personal feel