Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-10-12
A PRESENT DUTY.

This evening the primary meetings,
Republican and Democratic, will be
held IN this city, for the nomination OF
delegates TO the Conventions Of the
respective parties, at which nominal
lions will be made Of candidates for the
Offices to be filled at the municipal cleo
ton In November AZ these primaries
the preliminary steps are supposed to
be taken towards the chief object In
view; that Is, the selection OF fit and
able men to occupy the important civic
places which viii be vacant at the close
OF this year.
Experience has shown, however that
the real initiatory movements are fire.
quently made In private offices, where
clques are formed and tickets framed
and bargains entered into by political
workers and wlre-pullers, and the
masses OF the citizens are left In the
dark concerning those schemes The
consequence Is, that when they attend
the public primaries, they find meas
ulated and combinations formed and
they are "out In the cold" or compare
lively helpless IN the hands Of the
manipulators. Thus the primaries
become mere secondarles to perfect the
plots Of the prlme-moyers.
This has caused a great many clti-
zens, male and female to stay at home,
and make no attempt to utter voice
in the moulding OF political affairs. We
hope this will not be the case this even
ing. All our citizens are interested In
the choice Of proper men to serve the
city and the primaries are the means
provided for the manifestation Of that
interest. If the best people will take
advantage Of the means thus provided,
and attend in sufficient numbers they
can assert their rights and take such
measures as win secure the appoint
ment OF delegates who VIII work for the
public welfare instead Of private pur-
poses, and for the election Of respect
able and qualified persons for public
office instead Of the candidates OF ward
heelers and peanut politicians.
The municipal election of 1908 ought
TO eliminate in the choice OF men Of
high grade and business ability to
manage our city affairs. Strong par
tizans will desire the election OF menu
bers Of their own party exclusively, and
in this perhaps they may be justified,
reasoning from their own premises But
we are concerned only in the proper
conduct ana Advancement Of the city's
interests, and therefore wish simply
that good and wise and capable men
shall be chosen. who viii not scheme for
personal ends or TO provide places for
pets and dependents, but who will labor
for the general interests OF the city,
and study It's needs and opportunities.
There is no necessity for the tricks
and traps of low-down craftsmanship,
nor the abuse ana misrepresentation Of
opponents that have been resorted to
OF late. They are beneath contempt.
They but exhibit the unRtness Of those
who practise them FOR any office in the
sft OF the people. Why cannot the
contest go on IN fair and decent man
ner, excluding all improper and invidl-
Gus distinction as TO religion or non.
religion, personal and private matters,
and everything irrelevant to the one
purpose-the elevation Of competent
and honorable men to public station?
This Is what is needed. and the bet
ter class OF citizens should determine
that they WIN not support candidates
or measures seeking to promote strife
and foster ill-feeling, or to play into
the hands of the breeders OF hate and
plotters for pelf Let us have fair,
free and peaceful election, and put
none but honest ana reliable men IN
Office, without regard 60 their creed or
unbelief or social rank, so long as they
are taxpaying, capable citizens who can
be trusted and respected. An hands
to the primarles
,InNATHaN INnNu anna