The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-09-24
The METALS.
TRYING AN OLD GAME.

TRYING AN OLD GAME.
For three years the Smoot RepubIi-
cans have held control of their party,
Of the state patronage and federal Of
fees because the secession of the
Americans" from the party left no
one within its ranks to contend with
Smoot and Spry and Anderson and
Callister for control. For three years,
the Republicans. thus dominated. have
kept alive the feud aided by the Sc
ceders from the party; and both fac
tions have found it profitable because
it has given one the state and nation
al offices and the other faction has
held the city patronage. which is al
most as valuable. Neither side would
move a step toward peace because
both would suffer if peace came and
politics were restored to rational party
lines.
The profit which comes to both ex-
plains why the Republicans on one
side and the Americans on the 9TH
er work together TO defeat the Demo-
Gratis. Two years ago Mayor Morris
and his associates on the ticket would
have been elected if it had not been
for Senator Shoots personal interfer-
ence and the appeal on religious lines
which was made at the eleventh nOur,
just in time to insure an American"
victory. Although the Republican ma
chine carried only one city district and
its candidate was beaten worse than
any city nominee who ever ran for
office, the same tactics are being re-
peated this year. The Republicans
say frankly they would rather see an
American" victory than have the
Democrats win.
Why?
Because if the Americans" We're de-
feated it would make impossible the
appeal TO religious fear and prejudice
which has been so valuable an asset
of the Republican machine. Without
that excuse, without an American"
organization in office, the Smoot ma
chine would be compelled to go before
the people on a straight party issue:
without Offices the American" party
would disintegrate for lack of spoils
TO give it cohesion and attract the
ward workers; and if the Americans"
disintegrated. as they would if they
were defeated, they would go back to
the Republican party, where they be
long, and threaten the comfortable SUI
premacy Of the Smoot machine.
That is why the Republicans are d.
reeting all their fight this year against
the Democratic ticket: it explains why
their leaders say frankly they would
rather have the Americans win than
the Democrats; 1t explains why they
have sought TO entangle the Democrats
in some of the wards and secure fusion
with them which would mean an out
and out alignment on religious lines
only
The scheme to ALLEVIATE Democratic
strength by figuring out a possible VIC
tory for the Republicans worked two
years ago just we'll enough TO give the
Americans control Of the city, but it
viii not work now because the result
sickened those independent voters who
We're buncoed then. The Thompson
Sheets regime, extending over nearly
two years, showed what could be ex-
pected of the Americans" and since
the Republicans were largely response
bic for the election of Thompson. the
voters who went with them in the be-
lief that Lynch could win are not to
be fooled again in the same way.
Every disinterested citizen of what
ever political belief or religious faith
is sick and tired of the eternal GRIM
ination and recrimination of the two
fractional parties. Nobody but the Of
fce-holders, federal and local, who
profit by the continuance of the fight.
wishes to have the city handicapped
another two years by the same con-
ditions that have prevailed for the last
two. Whether the Republicans or
Americans succeeded, there could be
no relief from the obstructionists who
profit by the strife and do their utmost
to keep it alive.
Just one way offers for the restora-
ton of normal conditions in politics
and government in Utah and that is