The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-09-22
THREE-CORNERED
FIGHT IN OGDEN
Plans Being Laid to Place an
Independent Ticket in
the Field.
" ANTI-GRAFT" THE SLOGAN
CAMPAIGN PROMISES TO BE
LIVELY.

The latest development in the local
political situation would indicate that
ogden will have a three cornered fight
In the rail- campaign. This fact cropped
out yesterday when it was virtually de-
cloed to place full independent ticket
IN the field. Ordinarily this would not
be taken seriously but in the present in
stance there is at least some cause for
concern. Coupled with the independent
slchet movement are some of the most
prominent Republicans and Democrats in
the city and the party will be STYLED the
Antl-Graft party" The matter of plac-
ing an independent ticket in the field was
Drought up by those interested In placing
Attorney j. ID. Skeen in the fight for
county attorney. This latter movement
mas assumed greater proportions than was
at hrst anticipated. and the branching
OUT 10 naming a fun independent ticket
comes as a natural result Identified
with this party will be found Democrats
VINO are willing to make any sacrifice
IOr the purpose of defeating the present
hePuoilcan machine i'm Weber county
Inc reformers will also attach themselves
10 the independent band wagon as will
also many of the Labor party and the
dlSgruntled Republicans They are tired
of graft and will put ND a set of men
That Will use as their battle cry down
with all kinds of graft
AS one OF the forms of grating which
theN point out and which seems 10 have
been going on for some time they point
out the county clerks office as fl has been
hanoled since David MattSon the pres
ent incumbent. took charge. Before one
OF the local ciergymen took execution to
the practice. it was common thing for
mat office to solicit the performing of
marriage ceremonies. Close to one hun
dred ceremonies were performed nv ell
ders who were deputies i'm that office. OF
tue amount they received for this work
which was done on the countys time the
county clerk insisted upon having one
IA y IL of hD foo 1T
latter.
Another thing pointed out I'm the same
Office is the method employed by the
county clerk in collecting the annual
campaign assessment. 1t appears that the
assessment which was levied last year
called for 500 from the clerks office Mr.
Mattson put this little bill up to his en-
plOyes and then when some of them left
his service he collected the usual pro rata
nom their successors. In this way il is
claimed that more than 500 was collected
although some of il was paid under pro
test and none of the amount was returned
10 those who remained i'm the office but
q short time after they were called upOn
to pay the assessment. Personally, il
does not appear that Mr.. MattsOn paId
any portion Of the assessment himself as
was the custom with his predecessor.
Charles Holdings worth. who paid one
half the amount Of $50 from his own
purse, in addition TO standing the outside
expenses as does Mr. Mattson. At least
TWO of the other officers in the county
building pay the entire assessment from
tfeir own bank rolls and do not call upon
their employees for a cent. Sometimes
however the employees volunteer assist
ance During the two years that Mr.
Mattson has been i'm office he has lost
five clerks and is about to lose the sixth
which would seem 10 make his plan for
collecting the campaign money an EASY
one Each clerk i'm his office was called
upon during the last year to pay from
$40 10 $3.50 as his share of the campaign
fund levied on that office.
1t is in view Of such conditions as
these that the independent ticket is about
to be placed in the field and its support
will come from people who are tired of
such methods.