The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-06-28
THE OFFICIALS AND THE CITY.

Apostle Smoot thinks that Gone of the
funny things about the present city of.
ficials is that they seem to think they
are to be applauded for every foot of
sidewalk they lay, and every yard of
street paving He concludes that this
is what they are paid for, and they
should not expect any other apprecia,
tion than their pay.
1t is true, of course, that thu city
officials should do the public work
faithfully and well, as Apostle Smoot
seems to admit they are doing. They
| should do it with such economy also
as Is consistent with first class work; it
also appears to be conceded by the spos-
tie, that they are doing so.
But he takes the question in reverse
when he implies that the city officials
are expecting something in the way Of
applause for "every foot of sidewalk
they lay, and every yard Of street paw
ing. They are neither asking nor ex-
pecting anything of this kind. What
they do expect, however, is that the
people who lay claim TO intelligence
and fair amount of public spirit and
decency shall not assail them on account
of "every foot OF sidewalk they lay, and
every yard of street paving They
expect that people of ordinary Intelli-
gence who lay claim to some degree
of sense and conscience shall not con-
stantly lie about them, berate them on
pretense that they are not doing what
they are doing, misrepreseut them be.
fore the public, aud treat them as if
they were band of outlaws and scoun.
drels.
1t appears to be the meaning of Apos-
tie Smoot S position that there is no
medium ground between a demand for
applause and an excoriation of these of
ficials as unfaithful TO their trust, bad
citizens ard worse officials.
it is not true that the present city
officials are demanding anything IN the
way Of applause; they do think, how
ever, that their earnest and effective
efforts toward improving the city, to
ward making this the metropolis of the
whole mountain region, toward conduct.
ing the public S affairs with fair eco
nomy and good business ability, are en-
Titled at least to protect them from the
assaults of, malicious and lying rascals
who, if they know of the work that is
going on, are constantly lying about it
and who deny that these city officials
are doing the work that, in fact, they
are. doing The present city officials
would be perfectly content with neither
applause nor censure, but only a Just
recognition on the part of the public OF
the good work they have IN hand and
of the boost they are giving the city
They know that the best thing that
ever happened to Salt Lake was the
triumph of the American party in 1905
The city put on new life at once
energetically upon its forward
career in business and conspicuous
growth. They know that nothing can
retard the progress of the city EXCEPT
to have its fair fame eclipsed again un-
1er the baneful shadow Of ecclesiastical
dominance.
The best possible advertisement that
Salt Lake City have before the peo-
pie of this country. and before the !
world, is knowledge that Americanism
is triumphant here, that it has come TO
stay, and that investors and settlers can
rely upon its continuing to be straight
active, lively American city. |
And that is the condition which The |
Tribune insists shall prevail here, both |
now and forevermore.