The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-08-27
MIR. SHOOTS CONVENTION

Il He HERALD notes with great pain
that the nominations made by the
convention of Thursday sdisplease u
very respectable minority Of TIE Re
publican party hereabouts. It IS par
ticularly grieved that there should be
any objection whatever to having
Senator Reed Smoot assume ownership
IF the party in this state, name such
candidates as ne sees fit, and take over
the control of the party machinery.
To be sure. Il viii not help Utah
materially with the outside world
vixen It is known that a great po-
hticaI organiza ton is dominated au-
tocratically by an apostle Of the Nor
mon church now on trial before the
United States senate on various
charges, chief Of which is church in
reference in civil affairs. OF course
those of Us who live here know that
Mr. Smoot is acting in his political ca
pacity entirely apart from any eccIe-
siastica1 influence; but how is the be
nishted outsider to segregate TIE SEN
atOr from the apostle in a case like
this when he is already quite sure that
the state of Utah is dominated by the
church? The uninitiated, prejudiced
by unfriendly report, are so sure Of
this fact, that Apostle Shoots promi-
uenoe in the convention Of Thursday
Is to them confirmation strong as proof
Of holy writ clincLing q conviction al
ready formed
But-and this is the gist Of the mat
ter-no one is to blame for this sit
uation but the Republicans Of Utah
themselves. They voted for a legisia-
ture which they knew in advance was
pledged to the election of SmOot to the
senate. They ratified the choice when
tie legislature finally selected him.
They made their bed and now they
ought to smile as they lie down in it,
and pretend it is a couch of down,
lined with silk
Senator Shoots selection of Cutler,
and the ratification of his choice by
the formal vote Of the convention. is
a natural sequel to his election as SEN
ator. His consent to the other nOmi-
nations. particularly Of two not on his
slate, was mark of generosity, not
of surrender, so that the day was lis
and he may naturally assume that his
party approves his assumption Of the
Richelieu role.
What the result viii be at the polls
Is another matter entirely. Able as
Smoot is. I'm control OF his party as
he rs. dictatiou to a whole people is
not So simple as dictation In a party
assembly. Signs are not wanting that
the people of Utah resent Mr.. Shoots
prominence in their pc4itieal affairs at
this particular juneture- They see that
his appearance in the role he has cho-
sen means a continuation Of the agi-
tation which began with his election.
and that there can hardly be peace
within or without the state so long as
he forces ais personality TO the fore
IN political affairs. Whether right or
wrong. SmOot viii be an issue in ma
tionaI as well as political affairs in
this campaign; and 1t remains for the
people of Utah to say whether they
like it or not
The ticket named is unObjectionable
in its personnel. Mr.. Cutler might
properly be called a coIoFIess candi-
date and it may be taken for granted
that no wild enthusiasm viii accom-
pany his campaign Not versed in
public affairs, in no sense a man OF
broad public sympathies, but cap
a BILE business man of unimpeachabie
character, he wiz command the vote
of those party men who always vote
the straight ticket. and no others As
governor he may be depended upon to
follow Senator Shoots advice AIR
Tingey for secretary Of state. Mr. Ed
wards for auditor and Mr.. Breeder for
attorney general, were chosen because
they were on the Smoot slate. Mr..
Howell for congress also has the sena-
tors approval to thank for his renomi-
nation,
In the nominee for the supreme
bench, Mr.. Straup. the Republicans
chose a good lawyer, a first class cii-
zen and a politician OF more than
common acuteness and popularity. Ar.
Nelson for state superintendent Of
schools had no opposition from fac
tions; and Dir. Christensen, the one
man opposed by the Smoot contingent,
though not unanimously, is indebted
TO the stupidity OF his antagonist and
the friendship Of Governor Wells IT
his success in TIE convention Indeed.
IL Governor Wells has one thing to his
credit in the light Of Thursday, it is
the strategy which defeated Moyes.
who had pledged himself 10 Wells and
deserted him at a critical time in the
hope OF securing his own nomination.
Altogether the convention was one Of
She most interesting gatherings the
state has ever seen. No fight has ever
left more bitterness; no political gath
erlng here ever saw as much treach-
cry and as much brazen trading OF
votes for Office as this one. Qualifca-
tious for Office. the real wish of the
people, the obligations Of past friend
ships. were ali disregarded in the wild
scramble for votes and control OF the
party machinery. 1t IS only natural
that 81 suck q close contest there
should be some wounds; but in this
case. the wounds are CT the kind that
DO not heal with time. and the fight
ing efficiency OF the party assure 70 be
impaired by them.