The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-01-21
"AMERIcAN" PARTY TROUBLES.

"AMERICAN" PARTY TROUBLES.
Moved by criticism Of their admins-
tration. the americans" are beginning
TO formulate some way Of, escaping
condemnation for their record during
the year just closed. Although they
have conducted their caucuscs in Sc
crct so far it is not hard TO surmise
what their troubles arc or how difficult
So is FOR them % make any successful
Plan 90 reform.
One of the subjects that distresses
them is Contractor Pat NIoran's bills
for extras. Although their council has
approved bill for S9150 bonus for
completing work on the conduit ahead
Of time the board OF public works re-
fuses To sanction the bill. and has at
tempted TO secure a compromise for
about one-fourth Of the claim. Stil
another claim is for ST. 600 for NeXtra"
excavation. Although Moran insists
his claim is legal ard authorized under
the terms OF his contract. the Amer
leans" haven't the nerve to pay It.
much as they would like TO. because on
top Of their other financial derelic-
ti0ns they fear the outcry which would
fellow a settlement. The net result
viii probably be a lawsuit. with the
chance Moran will prove his claim and
show that he is entitled To payment
in full because the administration has
not safeguarded public works as it
should. Whether he does or does not
get judgment the final day will be
postponed and enable the administra-
ton to make showing Of protecting
the taxpayer.
However. the Moran business is only
a symptom not the real cause of trou-
bic. for the Americans" That lies
deeper. The party promised to eve
form the management Of city affairs
and has failed utterly. hoDelessly. It's
trouble is il the men who have been
appointed TO manage departments and
their subordipates Where Mayor
Thompson could have Commended the
services of high-class business men to
aid him. ne has chosen. with the advice
o. the party leaders. 80 pat in Office
the vote-getters. men whose business it
"a to round Vp the votes and rustic par
~ support. Naturally and Inevitably.
thc administration of the city's BUSH
ness is exactly on a par with the class
Of ofice-holders. 1t would be unkinG
10 specify particular cases where the
whole administration is SO Inadequate.
hut il is within bounds TO say that
from the police department and street
department. up and down tie line. no
city regime has ever given such good
grounds for complaint and disgust.
I'm his dilemma the mayor is confront
el with one of two alternatives; if he
begins housecleaning in earnest he VIII
have TO throw out the heei-rs. the or.
sanizers. the rank and file leaders OF
his party. with the certainty that thcy
VIII fight back at the next election.
They are not OF a class To hang onto
principle long when the meal tickets
disappear. And il he does not clean
house ard reorganizc his departments.
he VIII be face 10 face with a still
verse decentralization Of his party
among the men who have identified
themselves with it's real principles. but
have no use for the way It's affairs are
heing managed.
In this state OF affairs. conferences
are in order--lots OF them. The annual
financial statement is about due. ard
when it appears, no matter how it is
figured, some more conferences will DO
due. Then. along in the fall. tho voters
VIII have a little conference on cleo
tion day and say what they think
about it. Truly, the way Of the ''re.
former who doesn't reform is as tough
IS a corduroy road in a Mississippi
swamp.