The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-10-03
THE SMooT GRIP UNsHAkEN.

We note reports from different sec
tions OF the State that Apostle Smoot
is being denounced by certain conven-
tions, aud that there are horid declara-
tions in criticism of him and repudla-
ton of his bossigm. These, TO be sure,
are mostly Democratic conventions, but
even so We do not see Jlat Apostle
Smcot is materially damaged in pres
tiee or power By anything that is said
or done. For instance, there is parade
Of independent 'fDemocracy' ID Utah
county, the evidence Of that indepen-
depce being that the Democrats
have refused u ReDublican' appeal
for fusion IN that county, It would be
interesting to know why there should
be any appeal by the Republicans -
Of Utah county for q fusion with the
Democrats There is no American
party there, end if the Republicans and
Democrats should fuse there would
probably be no opposition ticket, and
it would be walkover for the candi-
dates upon whom the fusion was made.
There is no evidence, how that
any special opposition to Smoot or
Smootism was manifested in that Utah
county convention; full ticket was
put up, and the Smoot men appear to
have been in charge throughout. Apostle
Smoot not only STAYED of every word
of denunciation against himself, but he
actually succeeded in dict2 ting TO the
convention some or its nominations. For
instance, he dictated the nomination OF
". h. Henry for Sheriff, as a reward
during the pendency Of his case before
the Senate committee IN Washington.
Smoot g hand was absolutely apparent
in this pomina tion, whereby the plum
was given to & Snoot man, not known
to have any qualifications for the office
Of Sheriff, against Joseph ". Loveless,
a man whose qualifications for that
Office are universally recognized as em
inent. The programme undoubtedly is
TO have Henry defeat Harmon, who was
nominated on the Republican tick
ct for third term; and as there is a
virulent antagonism to third termism
throughout this State. Harmon undoubt-
edly sees the political grave open yawn-
ing for him,
In Logan, also. the evidences Of
Smoot's recent visit to that place are
plain to be seen. He appears to have
dictated his favorite nominations by
the Democratic convention there, from
first TO last Although good many
windy diatrihes were fred at him, and
| the convention denounced the reckless
and arrogant course of the "Republi-
| can machine in this State without
naming Smoot, and without, III fact,
/ being opposed TO him i'll any way. it
/ gave him all he could want, carrying
out his purposes with just enough op.
position for blind and to make the
people believe that there was d row on
against Smoot.
In different parts Of the State the
same sort Of tactics have been played
in Democratic conventions. Once in
a long while Republican" conven,
ton also plays at the same game There
nave been apparent concessions, but al
through the hand Of Smoot as the
guiding force has been seen; that force
so shyewdly applied so as not to arouse
tic open antagonism OF the 'fDemo
Gratis as party men, or rather SO that
the Gentle members Of the Democratic
party might have a chance for self-de
lusiop in the dust kicked up so that
they might be able 10 say to themselvet
and to the community that they are
just as much against Smoot as anybody
can be.
But as long as they do Smoot's viii
it makes little or NO difference what
they say against him; the firing OFF oi
speeches, dcnunciations, or even reso
lutions against him and his machine
count for nothing As long as they Dc