The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-10-28

GIVE COMMON SENSE A CHANCE

Sept 49, 1905, Chairman NJ. F. Cunning
ham Of the Democratic committee of
Salt Lake county issued the following
address. This was before any of the
party conventions had been held. Since
then the American party has made its
brazen appeal for every Gentle vote on
religious grounds. and the Smoot ma
chine" through its organ. has thrown off
the mask In the most inflammatory
language it continues to appeal to Ill
Mormons to forsake their political con-
victions and vote the Republican ticket.
In the light of these developments the
address of the Democratic chairman will
bear re-readns. Here it is:
To the Citizens OF Salt Lake County:
You are confronted by conditions that
are a disgrace to the community. Neigh
Dor is arrayed against neighbor in bitter
ness OF heart Blgotry. hate. cupidity
and distorted ambition are the forces that
govern the actions OF men. Public offices
are debauched in a Wretched scramble
for advantage. Public business is pros
ututed TO partisan ends. Private citizens
are made the victims of vicious crusadcs
Reason and the teachings of Christianity
are banished from consideration Vio-
renee is prevented only by the fear OF
punishment.
These conditions are traceable directly
mlS0oe(S
Republican party in Utah. In support of
history:
Six years ago, as result of a deal with
Reed SmOot and the men in his conf
dence Thomas Kearns was elected to
seat In the United States senate En-
uencned IN MS position through the grace
of the Republican party then in com
plete control of the state, Mr. Kearns set
up dictatorship such as is rarely seen
IN republic No ruler was ever more
absolute. He repudiated the men who
raised Aim to office. Arrogance governed
his everv action.
The day OF reckoning came and Thorn
as hearns was hurled from power. His
place on the throne was Immediately
taken by Reed Smoot, an apt scholar.
Senator Shoots highest ambition in pol
1tics is to out-HerOd HerOd. and up to
this time success has crowned his eff
forts.
This disgraceful feud between Thomas
Kearns and Reed Smoot led to an open
rupture in the Republican party. and
since then there has been little for the
citizens of the community but sorrow and
shame Every legitimate interest in the
state has been impaired by these wretch
ed. warning ambitions; throughout the
land from ocean to ocean Utah has be-
come hiss and a by-wOrd and on all
sides reasonable men are praying 70.
some avenue of escape.
Two Republican Factions.
The Republican party is rent into two
bitter factions as the direct result of the
pefSOiidl QudTTel between InOmaS kearnS
and Reed SmOot. One faction is known
as the Smoot machine" the other as
the American party. The heart and
center of the Smoot machine" in this
county is made up of federal state and
county officials. 1t is notorious that
many OF these officials are prostituting
their positions and neglecting the duties
for which they draw paw from ali the
people in vicious and senseless endeav-
or. not to advance the public interests.
but. at the expense of the public to en-
trench themselves and their parasites
more firmly in their positions and in this
way advance their own selfish ends Cor
the county government and gross incom-
potency in other departments are the
inevitable results of this system
An essential and very important factor
in the Smoot machine" is that CON
temptible biped who goes about. trying
by hints winks, mods and innuendo to
convey the idea that it is the wish of the
head of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints that members of that
church vote certain ticket
The other Republican faction '.tha
American party" is now entrenched i'm
every department of the city government
OF Salt Lake City. This is the direct re-
suit OF the blind folly Of Reed Smoot and
his political parasites. One year ago.
Just on the eve Of the city election. Mr.
Smoot came to Salt Lake City from his
home in Provo. He came to dictate to
the citizens of this community how they
should vote IN local election. He
brought with him Republican National
tied Doodle to influence voters by betting
on Brokers row and elsewhere As the
direct result of the resentment aroused
by this invasion many Democrats and
Republicans broke ranks to defeat the
SmOot scheme William J. Lynch the
Republican candidate for mayor of the
total Of 21.719 cast for all the candidates
This was less than one-fourth of the to-
tai vote OF the flfty-three voting dis
tricts in the city, William ]. Lynch car
ried but one.
Smoot Helps "Americans."
AS another direct result of this in+er-
ference of Reed SmoOt in local affairs
Salt Lake City is delivered over to the
mercy OF that faction of RepubIcanism
which parades under the name of the
American party" In the minds of rea-
sonable men the administration of this
faction is held to be an intolerable curse
In it's leadership and management s!tbe
American party" is the personification of
hypocrisy. IT is led by adroit and un-
scrupulous politicians who appreciate
fully the value Of religious prejudice as
a political asset. 1t has played on the
passions of its followers until they APP
proach the frenzy of a crusade it ar
rogates to Itself all the purity and all
the patriotism of the community. and
under this cover it gives free rein to vice
the highest point in the history of the
city. Public money is squandered right
and left as pay for party service. Fa-
vored contractors are given the keys to
the public treasury. Public work is done
only by special favor.
Yet despite the fact that the city adj
ministraticn is a stencil in the nostrfls
OF all men. the Republican faction known
as 1.-The American party" is now reach
ing out for control of the county govern
rnent DenOuncing church influence in
the ranks of it's opponents it is itself on
its own side resorting to the lowest and
basest methods ever employed by any
marty in this direction. Arrogating to
itself I'll the virtues Of Christianity it
appeals ITO every evil passion OF the hu-
man heart 10 advance its cause. Posing
as the special advocate of purity in all
things II is preparing TO debauch every
ballot box in the county. Wrapped in
The flag of our common country and
Shouting aloud from the hOusetops it,, in
tense loyalty II is resorting to methods
that destroy all respect for all govern
nent And behind II al are plainly Wis