The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-10-27
DEMOCRATS PUTTING UP
ASTRONG, WINNING FIGHT
Prospects in Wyoming Were Esvsr So Good As This Year and
Success Is Confidently Predicted

Especial to The Heraid)
Y VANSTON. Wyo., Oct. 26-Poiiticai
predictions can be reduced to
about the same percentage of GER
tainty as the representations of the
weather bureau. Almost the same iden-
teal facilities and appliances are util-
lied IN arriving at the truth in both
instances. In the present political con-
test in Wyoming the Democrats have
decidedly the best of the fight up TO
date. although the Democratic forces
are without a leader. the state chair
man having through inexperience and
irefiiciency thrown himself open 10
criticism. just. though piteous- HOW
ever. the intelligence Of the great mass
of Wyoming Democracy Is amply able
to wage a successful battle against the
opposition without leadership.
The issues are plain. easily defined
and need only steadfastness, energy
and determination. Fortunately, every
county in the state is we'll organized
locally and every Democrat in the sew
eral counties is regarded as a leader
unto himself.
Issues of the Campaign.
There are three we'll defined issues
in the state over which the two great
parties viii contend for supremacy.
True. there is a Socialist party in the
state. but il is a mere side snow and
will cut no figure either way
First, the present state administra-
ton must answer TO the just charge OF
unjust taxation. It has been clearly
shown that giant corporations have
been invariably favored in many ways.
while the taxes of the comparatively
poor have been unjustly increased. For
instance, the constitution of this state
provides that producing mines shall be
taxed in addition TO the surface i'm
provements, and in lieu Of the taxes on
the land on gross receipts. II pro-
vides also that the state board of
equalization shall assess at their actual
value the franchises, roadway, road
bed. rails and rolling stock and all
other property used in the operation
OF all railroads and other common car
riers. except machine shops, rolling
mills and hotels in this state.
Furthermore, il declares that the leg
islature must establish courts of arbi-
tration.
Constitution Violated.
None OF these provisions of the con-
stitution has been complied with in a
single instance. No courts of arbitra-
ton have ever been established and
the state board has placed only mere
nominal value on railroads and other
taxable property. The present Repub-
lican administration has even pro-
tected certain element in Wyoming.
namely. the railroads, other common
| carriers. the coal baTons and other
wealthy corporations in refusing TO re-
] turn their taxable property 10 the as
SCISSORS. The Union Pacific railroad.
| for example, has increased the amount
of its investment in Wyoming more
than $1,000. 900. yet this great corpora
ton paws less taxes now than II did
before. The present administration of
Wyoming. therefore. stands convicted
on many counts of a gross and plain
violation of a plain law. The taxpay-
ers Of the state have been so lenient
that the burden has become unbearable,
and the protest. with the ballot at the
election in November viii be very de-
cided. The people of this state have
fully made mp heir minds that there
/ can be no government where the state
officials themselves are guilty Of gross
/ " violating the piainest provisions OF
the state constitution.
War on Saloons.
Another issue. and a very important
one too. which the Republicans hrsl
raised and have made every possible
effort since to suppress, is the ques-
ton involving the saloon and sporting
element.
Henry G. Hay, Republican candidate
for state treasurer. first thought up the
issue at the Cheyenne primaries by
surreptitiouslY sending out a circular
letter to every voter in the Capital City
TO be on the lookout for Harry Hynds
to be sure that he was kept of tbs
delegation and TO labor vigorously fol
the complete suppression OF whatever
influence might be exerted by Harry
Hynds. II was not long until the Re-
publican state central committee dis
covered that Mr. Hay had made q
blunder, and since then Candidate Ha,
is still after Hynds and his influences
with the saloon and sporting element
but Mr. Hay is not doing his wori
along the lines first proposed. but il
now engaged in the vigorous still hun
act Mr., Hay. however, showed hi
hand early in the game and gave !
out plainly in his circular letter TO hi
constituents that he CHay) was backe'
up IN his purposes to down Harrl
Hynds by the Republican party o
Wyoming.
People Are Tolerant.
Gambling in wyoming is wide open
so are Sunday saloons. This state i
known to have been very liberal to
wards the entire sporting fraternity
I 7eaI htr
Democracy. but since the installation
of the present Republican governor al
attempt has been made TO confne III
entire state government to the inclos
ure that marks the corporation limit
OF Cheyenne: hence the state of Chey
enne" is a by-word in Wyoming today
Everybody in Wyoming and Utal
knows Harry Hynds: he is a gamble
after the style OF the legitimate;
prototype Of John Morrissey. The sa
loon element of Wyoming is in sym
pathy with his business. as his bust
ness is in sympathy with the salOol
element. Most reasonably and logi
caliy, therefore, the saloon and sportin
element of Wyoming viii not vote {
retain in power a party that has open
~ aVowed its intention Of putting tn
entire fraternity out Of business.
Colin Hunter. one of the grandes
men in AL Wyoming, is candidate 70
state treasurer on the Democrats
ticket. and unlike his opponent, MI
Hay. he never threatened openly o
otherwise to interfere with the legiti
mate business of the saloons of tn
state. and the saloon element viii
therefore be solid for Colin Hunter
A Moral Issue.
There is another issue involving n
highest duty OF every voter of n
state. and that issue alone viii insur
the election of George T. Beck. Demo
cratic candidate for governor. Thi
issue deals exclusively with the mora
phase OF political life and embodies IN
same questions that sounded the Dolii
ffaof daarh Irna1f Of T2raotrarrr-i ca ~ Lyar,