The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-10-02
a DEMOCRATIC OPPORTUNITY.

l.
the Grand ought to convince even
the skepticaI that the new American
party is gaining strength. and that it
win maintain its organization.
Naturally. the sensation Of the even
ing was the appearance OF Senator
Frank J. Cannon as one of the speak
ers. followed by the announcement in
the morning papers that he had re-
signed from the Democratic state com
mittee in order that he might work
with the new organization.
Just what effect the new accession
viii have on the fortunes Of either of
the old parties is not easily predicted,
but it is certain that the senator's re-
tirement is a distinct loss to the Dem
ocrats, since he was one of their most
convincing speakers and has a personal
following among the younger voters
which may prove factor in the cam
paign.
So far as the Democratic party is
concerned however. the fight is one in
which the party has little concern.
Democrats do not have to offer evil
Gence that they have not been the oen-
ehciaries Of church influence; they have
not sought nor do they fear it. The
only suggestion Of improper influence
has come from the chairman of the Re
publican state committee, and if he
could by any chance make good his
threat to ALLEVIATE Democrats from their
party allegiance, he would do his
friends more harp than good.
The American party ticket presents
a list Of good men, representing large
interests. Individually, they are the
kind of material too seldom found in
politics: collectively and as party rep
resentatives, they do not expect to be
elected. Some Of them are making a
sacrifice TO register the protest they
personify against the use of ecclesias-
teal influence in civil and political af-
fairs.
But making this protest, they can
have no quarrel with the Democratic
party, since the Democrats OF Utah.
publicly, in conventions and out of
them. have made the very protest the
American party is now making; and
the Democrats have done it dispassion-
ately, without any hope OF political
gain. and always without a trace OF
opposition to the Mormon church as
religious body.
The plain fact is that the Democratic
ticket in the state in the county and
in the Salt Lake legislative nominal
tons, represents quite as strong a SEN
timent against eeclesiasticism in poll
tics as does the American ticket. The
chief difference is that the Democrats
have maintained this position for years
I'm the face Of repeated defeats. while
the Republicans who have organized
the American party had no complaint
To make of church influence until they
lest it.
For more than two years The Herald
and the Democratic party has opposed
Apostle Shoots political programme
because they believed, and stin believe,
that his presence in Utah politics spells
discord at home and injury abroad.
The record has justified that belief.
Today Utah is divided and torn into
factions because Senator Suoot went
into politics two years ago and has
identified his party with his apostolic
Office. There is no escape from the IN
evitable and prolonged injury to Utah
which must follow a continuance Of his
political activity
The simplest way, the only way, to
remove Smoot from political life in
Utah and thus escape the factionaI
hatred. the financial loss and social di-
visions which he has brought, is to vote
the Democratic ticket.
It seems clear that the Republican
split must result in Democratic sue
cess Only one contingency could ef-
feet any other result. That contingent
c. was suggested by Chairman Spry of
the Republican state committee. when
he said he would have to gain two
Mormon Democrats in the country for
every Republican he would lose in the
cities. Doubtless Mr.. Spry spoke in
anger. but just as surely he spoke the
thing that was in his mind. His friends
have tried TO make it appear that he
was not quoted correctly. but Mr.. Spry
himself is too honorable to make a
public denial Of it. because he knows
its truth.
Judge Powers very aptly said that
Sir- Spry might know Republicans. but
re evidently did not know the Mormon
Democrats o. Utah
They knoW-if Mr.. Spry does not
that this is a Republican family quar-
rel. and that no Democrat can profit
By getting mixed up with it.
They know-and Mr.. spry also knows
= that any wholesale desertion Of their
party by Democrats just at this juno
ture would prove every charge OF bad
faith that has been made against Utah
BY her. enemies. at home and abroad.
They know, too, that an opportunity
IS offered at this election to settle this
states troubles or petpetuate them in
definitely. And With this alternative