The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-10-02
THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

Very much thai the Republican city
platform says is true, particularly that
part which refers to the American"
party. 1t is true, as the platform sOys.
that the present city administration has
been wasteful and extravagant and
worthy of condemnation. 1t is true that
the course OF the administration, sup
ported by its newspapers. in the Nc
Whittier case was a disgrace to the
city. 1t is true that the time has come
when falsehood and Islander affecting
the city and people should cease. 1t is
certainly true that the finances of the
city are in deplOrable condition, and the
facts should be known, through state
ment from the auditor and treasurer
statements which should have been
made over a month ago and are with
held for fear of their effect on the po-
litical situation
But there are some things i'm the Re-
publican platform that do not conform
TO fact. There may be no justification
for the existence of the American
party, but whatever excuse has been
sufficient for the attitude of it's several
thousand voters has been afforded by
the men now in control of the Republi-
can machine. There would have been
no American" party if Reed Smoot
apostle of the dominant church, had not
been elected to the United States sem
ate. There would be no excuse for the
American" party, and it would dis
solve automatically now for lack of
support if Senator Smoot were to re-
sign either his apostleship or his SEN
atorship. or if he were to retire from
active control of the Republican party
IN this state.
Insofar as the Republican leaders
support Senator Shoots ambitions, and
insofar as they defend the participation
of high ecclesiastics in politics. they are
giving the American" party leaders
the only reason for appealing to popu-
lar passion and religious feeling; and
just that far they are responsible for
the continuance of the situation which
has grown unbearable to the people of
Utah.
These are facts that bear no relation
to the right or wrong of Senator
Shoots election to the senate. That
august body has decided, and properly,
that no legal obstacle existed to pre-
vent his election. His title to the seat
is undisputed. But the objection to the
participation of an apostle in political
control has not been wiped out, and it
cannot be wiped out. by platform decla-
rations or Republican disclaimer of re-
sponsibilty for their share in creating
the situation which now exists Theo-
retically, Senator Shoots right to run
the Republican party may be estab-
lished in the eyes of the Republicans
who follow him; practically, some
thousands of citizens vote against the
Republican party as an expression of
their hostility-not to Senator Smoot,
the individual, but to Apostle Smoot,
the high churchman. in politics The
condition exists. and no platform de-
ciarations or disclaimers or invectives
can change it.
Just one way offers for the settlement
of this situation and the elimination of a
third party from Utah politics, and that
way is by the defeat of both the Re-
publicans who uphold Smoot and of the
Americans" who will thrive on dis
aster to the rest of the community so
long as they have the present Repub-
lican control as an excuse for their in
discriminate attacks on thescity, the
state and a large majority of the peo-
pie.
The Democratic party is opposed
equally TO the Republicans and the
Americans" 1t has had no part in the
factional feud which these two parties
precipitated and still maintain. Its
skirts are clear of the methods which
have been so injurious ta~Utah and to
Salt Lake City. It offers-the-ene posi-
Die chancs for the reservation ef-poiitics