The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-08-15
= DEmooRATlo opPoarunlIY.

/ i PERHAPS A IFG4Ilsf. IA EGL4I
to venture prophecy on the political
outlook in Utah, but the Democracy is
IN position to enjoy what developments
have been offered to date by the op-
position. The Democracy is good
deal Ike the Texas man who accident
ally mistook his mother-in-law for a
burglar and had to attend her obseauies
later; he said his emotions were a
commingling of joy and regret.
The JOY OF the unterrified over the
beautiful row in the Republican ranks
and the certainty that some one viii
have a political funeral presently. is
tempered by the knowledge that the
Democrats have been slow to appre-
ciate their opportunity. In the south
ern counties particularly, it is time for
somebody TO wake up and prepare to
tight. Naturalization and registration
work should be done Immediately, and
the county organizations should be
lined up in working order so the state
committee may turn its attention 20
plans for the main campaign
In the east the prospects of Demo-
cratic success are brighter than they
have been at any time since Cleveland
was elected In 1892. Apart from the
opposition to Roosevelt in his own par
y. the Democracy has never had as
strong an organization nor as solid an
alignment of all the rank and file.
Where all was disorganization and dis,
sension in 1896 and 1900, there is har-
rnony OF the most effective kind.
There is no reason why the Demo-
Gratis of Utah should not get in line
with their eastern brethren and make
winning fight. The Republicans of the
state are engaged in an irreeoncilable
fight among themselves of the bitterest
kind. With Smoot attempting to dictate
ali the nominations, Kearns fighting
for his senatorial life, Cutler and Wells
and Hammond locked in a three-cor-
nered strange hold, somebody is going
10 get whipped. and badly whipped, in
the convention.
In other years it has been possible for
the Republicans TO forget their differ
ences and stand together on election
day; but this year it is a case Of
Apache and Comanche, with a few
Sioux lp-hunteTs mixing in. There
viii be no surrender and. no prisoners
when the fight Is over, but there will
be an aggregation Of political eorpses
worth viewing.
Some OF the wiseacres talk about
church influence being used to settle
the differences in favor of SnOot and
against the Democracy. The Herald
doesn't believe the church or any in
fuential part Of the organization Is
going to take part in the muss. It be-
Heves, moreover, that Senator SmOot
viii be allowed to 20 the full length Of
his rope and swing or stay in the SEN
ate as may be on the merits of his
case. The church of which he is a con-
spicuous and powerful member is IN
der no obligation to exert Itself in his
behalf after the trouble he has brought
upon it, and its Interference at this
stage would only confirm the impress
sion in Washington that he is in
debted to his connection with the
church for his political prominence.
Church influence under the present
administration is going to be what ma
thematicians call negligible quantity
IN this campaign
ASSUMING that it win be a fair fight
and no church favor, there is every
reason why the coming election should
place Utah in the Democratic column,
where it rightfuIIy belongs. At the
most the majority TO be overcome on
the basis of the last congressional cleo
ton is very slight. and at that election
the Republicans were united, had good
management, funds to burn and the
prestige Of success. The election this
year finds them demoralized. torn with
factions and not confident Of their own
ability TO win.
With a compact organization, headed
BY men in whom the people have con-
fidenee and conducting a straight. clean
campaign, the Democrats viii win.
And now is the time to get that or
ganiza5ion in shape for business