The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-08-30
HOIST RY HIS OWN PETARD,

hoJSI sH f1lS, bWN AM
The publication OF the affidavit of
Charles Harmon. James Knight, D. II.
Crowther, and Thomas Robinson that
the city had been charged on their ac-
count last year under the Morris ad-
ministra ton with one days work which
they did not perform, the money going
into the Morris campaign fund, wos
bolt from the clear skies upon the Dem
ocrats of this city. The church agent
in the Council, Mr. Fernstrom, who
cares very little for the Democratic
party and still less for the Gentiles who
desire to have something 10 say about
the management of that party, brought
on this disclosure by his persistent prod
ding 10 find out what employees of the
city administration were contributing
somewhat of their. earnings to the
American campaign fund. At the last,
when he found Just what had been done
that some Of the employees had
agreed voluntarily TO contribute small
portion of their money for American
party uses, he protested that no did
not see anything wrong about it and
in despair cried out, "'WhY WASH Z this
produced before7"
There was no reason whatever why
any one should have produced it before
except himself. He made the charges
he ought to have had ample evidence
before pushing the imputation he made
ina rtu nd
ployees. of the city. But it seems he
did not care 10 get at the facts he
only wished to spring partisan SEN
sation which he hoped might besmirch
the American party. That 1T utterly
failed Of this purpose and instead fixed
an indelible blot upon the Morris ad-
ministration is something that he can
blame no one for but himself, and likely
enough he is very well pleased with
tho result But the Democratic party
morning organ, the Herald, takes the
matter very hard 1t cries out that
these men should at once be discharged
from the city's employ. That is TO say,
it calls upon tho American party TO
execute Democratic party vengeance
upon four men who have betrayed the
robbiug scheme which the Democratic
church gang Matched up last year and
carried out in tho interests Of Norris.
There is no evidence that these men OBJ
tanned any benefit whatever from that
robbing scheme, nor that they were any
party to it except by mere passivity in
oil bo Dnmoprotip hncenS m por-
petrate that steal upon the city in their
names, under threat that if they did not
permit ii they would be discharged.
Men put in position Of that kind can
hardly be expected to refuse their as
sent. Their places were their bread and
butter; they were obliged to submit or
go hungry, they and their families.
Naturally, they gave in.
But what is essential to do is TO
establish the truth of the matter, and if
1t is found as represented, begin prose
cution against the corrupt rascals who
Matched up that means Of robbing the
city. Councilman Fernstrom protested
his innocence of any completely in it,
and IN fact denied knowledge of it un-
til the affidavit was presented, But
Councilman Carter did not seem TO
think that that denial was sufficient.
His idea was, judging from his retort
to Fernstrom, that Fernstrom knew
about the matter from the first, If in
deed he was not the father of the job
We consider that it is incumbent upon
Councilman Fernstrom TO clear his
skirts of this matter, and we heartily
second the demand of Councilman Rulon
S. Wells that, in the interests of party
Justice, but more particularly Of public
right, there should be n thorough in
vestigatio into this charge, and if it is
legally substantiated those blamable for
il should be held to a rigid ac-
countability under the law, If the Of
Tense is found to be criminal one it
is all the more incumbent that the
| guilty ones should not be allowed to
escape. The matter is now on in public
| form, and it should be made official and
the investigation hastoned by all proper
means.