Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-11-29
THE FIGHT IN THE FIRST.


The nominations for members OF the
Board OF Education to be elected next
Wednesday In this city. have all been
made except for the Second precinct
The gentlemen selected are all qualified
for the place, and the voters are to be
congratulated on the choice they have
made. We hope the Second municipal
ward. which Is to hold It's convention
on Monday evening, vii not be behind
the others In the kind Of timber to
complete the board.
1t is q matter OF regret to many peo-
pie that so animated division has oc.
cured In the First precinct. or course
II Is viewed differently according to
the standpoint. The so-called 'inde-
pendents" and their supporters affect
to take non-sectarlan and non-partl-
san position. That win not bear crlti'
cal scrutiny A non-partsan conven-
ton was duly called. When the meet
Ing opened It became evident that Prof.
Byron Cummings, teacher in the
State University, would receive large
majority of the votes for nomination.
Also that he appeared to be acceptable
10 most Of the "Mormons" present. That
was enough for the clique that has
endeavored for years to control affairs
In that municipal ward.
The first trick played was to claim
that the convention was Republican
meeting, In which no Democrat could
be permitted to take part, The alb
surdity OF this was palpable, but It was
urged to the stampeding of portion OF
the assembly. II was so manifestly
wrong that even some OF the bitter an
IT, "Mormon' agtators had to denounce
IT, And then the next trick was played.
In order to prevent the nomination Of
Cummings, because he was, apparently
acceptable to the Mormon" voters. 1t
was strongly urged that the convention
should adjourn without further proceed
ings to meet at time and place to be
designated by committee. TO avoid
further strife this was submitted to,
the committee was appointed and the
convention adjourned.
Then came the third trick. The Re-
publican boilers dropped their partisan
scheme, the pretended 'non-partisan''
anti-"Mormons' fused and started the
independent movement. In order to
defeat II possible the choice Of the reg
ular convention, and 80 the meeting
was held in the City and County build
Ing, on Friday night. in opposition to
the regular adjourned non-partisan
convention In the Exposition building.
Mr. Daniel Eyer was nominated by the
independents" and from what we
learn is a gentleman qualified for the
post.
Here. however. Is the objection TO the
whole independent" movement: Prof.
Byron Cummings was viewed with
great favor by people of all classes, un-
I'll 1t appeared that he was supported
by the majority Of the Mormon" yot-
ers. He is not Mormon" he is not
Democrat, as at first reported by his
opponents, but the fact that he received
large Mormon support sours the bill
ious anti-"Mormon'' stomach and that
Is the animus of the fight against him.
Now Prof. Cummings is in no sense
Church candidate. He was not picked
out or put forward by the "Mormons,"
either In the First or other precincts.
When his friends represented his quali.
fications, and his prediction in favor
OF home talent II equal TO foreign, his
candidacy received support by the ma
jority of the people In that precinct, and
he would undoubtedly have been NOM
mated at the regularly called non-par-
tisan convention, but for the tricks we
have here exposed,
Every pretended objection to him is
without substantial basis. Because he
has class In the University, is no rea-
son why he will not have ample time
to attend to duties on the school board.
No one questions his ability nor his fit
ness for the place. The opposition
waged against him Ii a good reason
why the voters thus Disseminated
against should support him, II is a
sectarian fight, started by anti Nor
mon" manipulators who have exhibited
their hostility for years
Some Of them claiming TO be non.
partisan started the claim that the con.
vention was Republican. Others claim.
ing to be non-scctarian, bolted the reg
ular convention because the Nor
mons" seemed to be in the majority
That Is the whole contention.
Now, II the people Of the First pre-
cinct choose TO endorse that kind OF {
movement, or have not vim and deter
mination enough to defeat IT, the faul
End the consequences will be theirs. II
our opinion they should rise In thei
might and sit down upon II effectually
They can do this at the polls on Wed
nesday next.