The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-11-06
ADJUSTMENTS TODAY.
IN THE VOTERS, HANDS.

The result of todays election will de-
termine whether Utah is to have peace
st once or whether it is to suffer in
definitely because two factions in the |
Republican party have fallen out and
are involving the whole state and all
Its interests in their struggle.
No argument is needed TO show that /
the machine in control of the RepubIi-
can party offers no hope Of a truce. 1t
has the federal patronage, the county |
offices and the incidental perouisites
that go with them. 1t is dominated by
men who gave the city to the "Ameri-
can" party last fall and who would
rather see the county go the same way
than have the Democrats win. They are
indifferent to the cry of the state thel
cry of their own people, for a cessation
of the fight that has wrought so much
injury to every citizen. To perpetuate
themselves in office and political power
they are willing, determined to con-
tinue their appeal to passion and re-
ligious prejudice. Peace is the last
thing they desire because peace means
the end of the system by which they
rode into office and disrupted their
party.
Does the American" party offer any
better prospect? Can any one familiar
with it's leaders and its methods con-
vince himself that it can bring about
peace? Would its success mean a cessa-
ton of factional hostilities, a return
to legitimate politics on party lines?
Does it seem reasonable to suppose that
a victory in this county would settle
the disturbance here? Isn't it logical
to assume that another American"
triumph would only add fuel to the
flame of bgiotry, ostracism and hatred
that has been kindled by the party?
Suppose a combination of circum-
stances should, by any chance, give the
American" party control of the offices
of Salt Lake county: would that mean
the end of its attacks on the good
name OF the state and on the individ-
uals who oppose its policy? Or would
it mean fiercer campaign of defama-
tion and a bitterer struggle than ever
between the two factions of the Re-
publican party?
~
Dispassionate observation of the
states political history for the past
three years will convince any man
that neither of these forces will aban-
don the fight until both are defeated
by the people and driven from their
positions in public office. Defeat is the
only argument they can understand; Of
1ices furnish the only inducement they
can offer TO secure and hold their fol-
lowers.
Defeat and the rebuke it implies
would compel the retirement from
leadership of the men who are RESPONSE
bic for the situation here; and their re-
tirement would mean a new alignment
of forces, a return to legitimate poll
tics I'm which principles-not individuals
or religion-will be discussed. And until
these men are defeated and retired
from leadership, there can be no cessa-
ton of their personal warfare at the
expense of the state.
=
and then consider the result of Demo-
cratic victory. Wouldn't it mean the end
of the efforts to precipitate religious
war in politics? Wouldn't it mean the
elimination of factions from power and
the retirement of the men who are try
ing to precipitate such war? Wouldn't
it mean official service for the whole
people instead of for part of the peo-
ple? wouldn't it mean triumph for
decent politics and for the one party
in the state that asks political support
on political grounds only? Wouldn
II mean the political burial Of every
man who asks for votes on the ground
of religious intolerance or religious
prejudice?
The man who answers these questions
fairly and votes his convictions will
support the Democratic ticket If he
holds the welfare of the state above
49,. consideration The Demo-