The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-10-29
SEAMAN STANDS
ON HIS RECORD
Democratic Candidate Cannot
Be Dragged Down by Repub-
IieanS Under Charges.

Uncle" John Seaman, candidate for
county commissioner on the Democratic
ticket this fall. has been attacked more
than any other man nominated with the
exception of j. d. Skeen, the nominee
for county attorney. in attacking Skeen
II is because they fear his election and
the results which would follow, but Sea-
man is used as a subterfuge Tor some
of those now accused of grating III OIL
flee. Another case of My predecessor
did it, Why not p
Mr.. Seaman served a term of two years
as county commissioner and is well ac-
uLainted With the duties Of that office.
He is one of those most opposed to graft.
Notwithstanding there are those who
claim that he WAS deep IN the mire
as those now accused, during the time
he held public office. A short time ago
one of the local papers went into this
matter at length in an effort TO justify
the action of Chairman Joseph Stanford
Of the present board Of county commits
SiOEerS II was hoped by the Republican
party that this comparative expense ac-
count would deceive the voters at the
coming election and make the present Of
lice holders look less black than they
really were. Mr.. Seaman has all along
refused to make any reply TO these al
legations, but yesterday consented TO an
interview This is what he said:
Mr. Stanford has compared our eN-
penSe accountS-SOmethlng that / had no
knowledge of until they We're published.
] never compared them one way or the
other. Never. directly or indirectly, did
J have the remOtest idea that Mr.. Skeen
was to bring charges against Mr.. Stan
ford until chronicled i'm the papers.
never exchanged words with Mr.. Skeen
in this respect. So far l have not at
my time tried to Gust any man from Of
flee.
Presenting that the itemized expense
account as published by Mr.. Stanford is
correct, L am willing To say that l Will
and am not ashamed of tie record as il
stands. They seem to have lost sight of
the fact that i lived eight miles out OF
the city, and Stanford resides within less
than mile of the court house. Then.
too. when i was called away from home
on county matters it was necessary for
m to hire a man in my place, while he
does not have any other work If JO-
Hcph Stanford thinks he is entitled To the
same compensation as l. under these con-
ditions, all right, but / see no COMPARE
-sQn.
THE only thing I have against Mr..
Stanford is that when. in 1902 the dummy
payroll system was unearthed and called
TO his attention. he. with the other com
m:ssioners, was charged with instructing
the assessor to present his bills that way.
They entered their denial of the charge
and 1t became a question of veracity
between the assessor anG the commission
ers. When it was established that such
payrOIlS were approved and paid. and
when he found out that the graft was
being committed. neither he nor the coun-
~ attorney took action to recover from
the persons benefited
''In the interest of higher moral stand
ard for public officials it sometimes be-
comes necessary TO adopt drastic meas
ures to rid the party of people who are
inclined. when in official positions, to
take advantage of their office for self
assrandizement, which had probably bet
ter be done by the party itself for its
own vindication than to compel the Popu-
lists to rise up and vote it out Of power.
Instead, in Ogden we find a condition Of
affairs that is without a parallel in the
HISTORY of the American free government.
Fartisans and partisan papers are apollo
giving and condoning these offenses by
abusing and ridiculing men who have the
moral courage to expose and prosecute
as the law directs TO rid the community
OF such officials.
Il hardly think that the good people
Of Weber county will support such a party
at the polls in November