The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-10-29
THE SMOOT MACHINE.

The SMOOT MACHINE.
If the Deseret News were not above
suspicion of any partisan or political in
tentions. its editorial of Saturday
called The Tragedy Of Falsehood"
would be regarded as an open espousal
of Senator Shoots cause since. how
ever. the News disclaims in advance
any political purpose and since it has
always been known as an eminently
impartial partisan newspaper,
above any tricks or evasions or sub
terfuges. the political tone of the edi-
torial must be one of those peculiarly
unfortunate condolences that have
happened before in political cam
paigns
For the information OF The Heralds
readers, the comment referred to is re-
produced in full:
The News has no inclination to inter-
fere in any manner. directly or indirectly.
in matters pertaining exclusively 10 the
sphere of politics. nor do presume to
offer any political advice. or suggestion
or a partisan nature at any time. But we
believe we do not transcend the prerog-
ativeS of an Independent newspaper if
We voice the sentiment of the respectable
protest against the employment of false
hood for political purposes or with the
object of gaining converts for one side or
the other Of the conflict As perfectly
impartial and representing a large num-
her of citizens interested i'm the estab-
lishment Of good. honest government. We
have a right to ask for fair play and
square deal.
But il is neither fair nor square to in
vent stories about political opponents and
then asSaf them as if the inventions
4 - ~.
for Instance il has become the estab-
lished rule To cry out against the "Smoot
machine. This term * used q a wat
WhOOD. and every time il is heard. some
one is sure to have paroHYsm. Now. 4
political machine. IN the commonly ac-
Ccpted term. \ q bad cOutriVance. and
should be put out of commission. There
Is no difference of opinion as 10 that.
But when Senator SmoOt * accused Of
being the manipulation Of machine" as
implied In the expression referred to. il
becomes incumbent U9On the friends Of
fair play to point out the falsity OF the
charge. There is 40 such thing as
'Smoot machine. Those who invented
he term know this. They know that the
his enemies. The term is being used for
the purpose of frightening tinid souls or
binding their Judgment. 50 that they can
he the more easily led i'm the desired direc-
ton. But what advantage can anyone
hone TO gain by such deception? Suppose
some are misled by such means. Others.
FADa pie OF judging Tor themselves VIII
certainjy abandon any party and any
cause that must rely on fslsehOod for vic
tor
1t * generally admitted that never be-
fore III the history % Utah has there been
p campaign conducted with so much bit
1ernoss as the present No patriotic cit
iZen can help feeling concern for the out
come Of IL. IL is an old saving that 'eV-
.rything IS fair in love and war" But
everything is certainly not fair I'm poll
ties. Falsehood is standard no honest
citizen can follow. Hence the excellent
rule: If you are convinced that anyone Is
trying to deceive you by false statements
or misleading terms. leave them alone
Senator SmoOt is first of all an Amer
lean citizen. broad MINDED i'm his views
and pure of character. He was honestly
elected 70 the position he holds in the
United States senate. and his political ca
leer is free from any stain. IMPERIAL
ism used 10 be the warcry against Pres
fdent Mckinley. 1t is probable. that the
fa'sehood implied in that cry finally
brought death TO one Of the nOblest and
best presidents this country ever had
That is an illustration of the tragedy Of
falsehood-
Now there must be honest differences
of opinion as TO what constitutes a ma
chine Ordinarily. It is supposed 10 be
an organization within a party which
controls the actions of that party. die
tates its platforms and nominations
ana ldhtS uilio liStll lilt appointment
Of officials when the party is i'm DOW.
CT. Under that definition Senator
Shoots machine is about as perfect q
demonstration as could be found Sine.
his advent as leader OF the Republican
marty he and his associates i'm the ma.
chine have named all the candidate,
for high office; they have made all IN,
appointments TO federal office; the!
have named and elected the officials o
Salt Lake and other counties, and they
have selected all the appointive Off
GERS of the county
No Smoot machine,
Ask Heber NJ. Wells whether there il
a Smoot machine. ASK George y. Law
rance or s. II. Love or any other Re
publican who has yentured TO defy tn
lower of the machine. Ask the peopi'
Of Utah county or the people of Cach'
county whether there is a smoot ma
chine Ask the Agricultural Colleg'
a,thorjties. Ask Frank Knox, one-tim
,or,inee of the Republican party TO
navor whether it was machine tina
III him on election day.
A machine, Bless the News mnocen