Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-12-01

approved OF the selection, had no OBJ
lection against his position In the Uni
yersity and knowing that he was not
Mormon could not object to him on
that ground, but as soon as II became
evident that he was acceptable to a
large number OF the Mormon voters,
a note OF alarm was sounded and the
most dlsreputable means were employed
to break up the non-partsan and non
sectarian nominating convention so as
to raise anew the old ati-"Mormon'
fight
The proceedings Of the convention
that nominated Prof. Cummings were
regular, legal and respectable The
coalition against him was tricky des-
picabe and sectaran. 1t was anti
mormon" from the start 10 the finish
| II the "Mormops' wanted Cummings
| the Mormon -haters would not have
| him; that Is the substance Of the an
tagonlsm. The custom has been In the
| First Precinct for a small knot Of poli-
tlcians TO meet IN some lawyers ONCE
select candidates, lay the wires for
manipulating the primaries and con-
ventlous, and then work for the accom-
| pllshment Of their schemes. In this in
stance, after the convention was duly
called, they found when the question OF
Craftsmanship was sprung, that they
and theiAiolowers we're in the minor
ity. All their pretenses Of non-partlsan-
ship and non-sectarianlsm were scatter
ed to the winds. They claimed the meet
ing as a Republican convention, and
bolted from It on that ground, They
then dropped that excuse and combined
against alleged Mormon influence
and thus became sectarian.
They have not put forward one solld
reason against the election Of PROT
Cummings The thin and watery ex-
cuses they have offered eyaporate IN n
moment when exposed to the light OF
plain common sense. And we must con
fess surprise at the Herald's adoption
Of those shadowy excuses, In coming TO
the support of the boilers Of the First
Precinct.
We have nothing to say against the
gentleman nominated at the boilers
meeting. He Is not very well known
among the people of that precinct He
is said to be man Of responsibility
but who has had no special training for
the work OF a member OF our city
Board Of Education. He halls from
Kentucky, state which, while It T.
celebrated on many grounds, does not
figure prominently before the country
as Offering models In the way Of school
training or school methods. Compdr-
Ing the two candidates on the score OF
fitness for the work, there can be no
question as to the superiority of Prof.
Cummings, whose ability and suitable
lty are not disputed. The only two
grounds of objection against him we
have here considered. That they are
baseess will be evident to every rea-
sonng mind.
The question before the voters Of the
First Municipal Ward is, shall the par
tlsan and sectarian movement Of the
boilers prevail? The only way to stamp
out this spirit Of strife in that precinct
Is to support the regular nominee Of the
regular non-partisan, non-sectarlan
convention. and thus give notice to
schemlng politicians Of that district
that their attempted rule IS at
an end. No man should be sup
ported for public office. merely be-
cause he is q Mormon" nor should
he be Disseminated against on that
ground, or because he receives NOR
mon" support. This is a sectarian issue,
sprung by bitter and vlrulent anti
"Mormons" and everybody who is OPP
posed to that kind Of contention should
unite at the polls in opposition to it.
The Mormon" Church has not fig
ured In this fight. The statement that
It has is utterly and foollshly false.
But it is a fact easily demonstrated
that the opposition to Prof. Cummings
springs from anti-"Mormon' sources,
and is directed against him solely be-
cause the majority Of the Mormon"
citizens OF the First precinct accepted
him, on the nomination Of some Of his
personal friends. Neither he nor they
are members OF the Mormon" Church.
We understand he Is n Presbyterian
and a Republican. But his candidacy
recommended itself to the people who
supported him at the convention, on the
grounds solely Of his fitness for the
place, his fair and honorable character,
and his ayowed preference for Utah
teachers when Il is found that they
have equal ability TO those from a dis
lance, The News" is against the par
tisan and sectarlan spirit exhibited by
the boilers from the regular convention,
and therefore has taken up the matter
l.. l.,,