Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-07-10
THE COUNTY SCHOOL ELECTION

The election Of y. W. Ashton, the Re
publican candidate for the office Of
County Superintendent Of schools, by a
pronounced majority over the Demo-
cratic nominee, Is naturally looked up
on as q victory for the party that Sc
lected Mr.. Ashton for the post be Is to
occupy. In one sense Of the term that Us
true. The Democratic candidate Is de-
feated. and. Of course, that Is a trl-
umph for his opponent
But there are some features Of this
contention that ought TO be looked at IN
connection with the result First, an
offer was made TO the Democracy IN
this county 10 make this election non
partisan, but this was declined. There
Is a suspicion among many persons at
tached TO that party, that their oppo-
nents are afraid Of defeat whenever
they OFFER to fuse on any public matter
and therefore non partisan movements
are distasteful to them. in this case
however. We think the suspicion was
not wOll-founded As a matter OF prin-
clple, school officers should be Sc.
lected on higher grounds than their de-
yotion TO the political party 10 which
they belong School affairs ought to be
conducted apart from partisan ends
and designs
We have good reason 10 believe that
many Democrats voted for the Republi-
can candidate, because OF personal
friendship and regard for his qualih-
cations. and also their conviction that
school elections should be non partisan
in character The Republican voters
did not divide, because they had made
bipartisan oveTtures which were re-
jected. and because they had but one
choice Ashton was their man and had
been on a former occasion. Therefore
they went into the neld unitedly and
won with the aid Of some Of their party
opponents
on the other hand there was a divi-
sion among the Democrats The party
candidate was nominated with but one
vote over the votes cast Tor the pres
ent incumbent. The latter has made
a very efficient officer He might pos
sibly have been renominated IA non.
partisan convention. The chief Objec-
ton 10 him was that he had occupied
the place for long time. and the feel
ing was that some one else should
have q chance" This caused the
close vote IN the convention. And
while It Is conceded that the Democratic
nominee is an able and capable educa-
tor, well qualified for the Office, many
OF the friends Of the present superiuten.
dent felt that he ought 70 have been
coDtnued, and so a number Of them ala
not 80 70 the polls.
The victory, then, can scarcely be
proclaimed as a party triumph IN tho
full sense Of the phrase. That is to
say II In not a fair indication OF the
strength Of the respective political Or
ganiGations IN the county. II does
show, however, the effective orgauiEa-
ton, skilful manner. and united action
with which this contest was successful
ly handled, and the Willingness OF man
ayers and leading spirits among tho
Republicans TO work without pay and
with Il determination to do their Ut
most 20 carry the day.
We believe that the gentleman who
has been elected by a good majority.
viii prove eminenuy satisfactory 10
the people OF Salt Lake county His
political proclvlties should not enter
into the discharge Of his duties, nor
should the partisan views OF those
who voted against him be turned in the
least TO his dlsfavor He should have
the futl support OF an citizens. irrespec.
tive Of their opinions on matters OF
general policy. The outgoing super,
intendent has made an excellent school
officer the incoming superintendent we
have no doubt win show that ~ is not
lacking in any Of the qualifications for
the place, to which he has been fairly
chosen by the citizens Of Salt Lake
county.