The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-10-05
PLATFORM AND CANDIDATES.

we commend TO the citizens of Utah
the declaration of principles adopted
py the Democrats yesterday in their
state convention, and we bespeak for
IL the cordial approval and support Of
every voter who believes 1t is time for
Utah to rid itself OF the factional
troubles which have beset it for the
past three years.
me platform adopted is clear une-
quivocal, strong; it bears no sign of
malice, no faint of appeal to religious
or class feeling. 1t is the simple state
ment Of the belief held by every man
who. regards the political situation in
this state dispassionately and with an
eye single TO the welfare of the COM
monwealth and it's people.
The significant declarations are of
course. those relating to the principal
issue Of the campaign-the domination
of the Smoot faction in Republican af-
fairs and the desire OF the american"
party to enlarge the sphere of its de-
structive operations. Referring to
Senator Shoots part in the political
affairs of the state and the results
which have followed, the convention
declares that "the election to the Unit
ed State senate of an apostle of the So
called dominant church was imprudent
and Unwise, and has inflicted upon this
commonwealth of Utah and its people
injury from which they cannot recover
for many years to come"
I'm this connection, also, we con-
denim and denounce both the Republi-
can and American parties of Utah.
The former for its impassioned appeal
TO all Mormons without regard to for
mer political affiliations, to vote the
Republican ticket, and the latter for a
similar appeal to all -Mormons to
vote the American ticket We de-
nounce both of said parties for the
methods so adopted, and characterize
all such methods. as incendiary revo-
lutionary and subversive of the high
est and best interests of the common
wealth and the welfare Of our people"
Reviewing the history Of the state
for the past three years; recalling the
troubles that have followed in the train
of Senator Shoots election; remem-
bering the humiliation abroad and the
disturbance at home which can be
traced directly to his appearance as a
political leader, the statement of the
convention carries all the weight OF
automatic truth. There can be no de-
nying the injury that has been done;
there is no debating the truth OF the
fact that if Reed Smoot had not gone
into politics as a leader and candidate.
the state would have been spared the
suffering, the loss and the constant
disturbance which ensued
Nor is there any question as to the
part the american" party has played
in this disastrous period. 1t was found
ed on hate and political disappoint-
ment: it's stock i'm trade is defamation
OF the state and abuse of a religious
sect; processing 10 love Utah. it has
done its utmost to discredit the COM
monwealth abroad and foster dissen-
sion and suspicion at home. Its OBJ
ject is the possession of office that it
may the better pursue its enemies,
command revenue for distribution
among political favorites and build up
a machine with which to terrorize its
opponents and fatten its followers.
Opposing these two destructive forces,
the Democratic party offers the people
of Utah peace. a peace with honor, with
the certainty of good government de-
voted only to the interests of the peo-
pie: peace with men in Office who are
pledged 10 no faction, committed TO no
one mans ambitions, bent on punish
ing no one, rewarding no one.
On such a platform, with candidates
who command the respect of the peo-
pie and will work for their welfare
only, the party appeals confidently TO
the sound common sense of the state,
believing that in this crisis they will
recognize the wisdom, the necessity of
eliminating the Republican faction and
the American" faction Of the Repub-