The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1907-05-15
TIT SMITH CASE.

tnuef normal conditions ] HE kE-
PUBLICAN would have no words OF de-
Tense for an incompetent Official nor
would II protect criminal Sheriff
Tom Smith is probably the one, but
we do not believe he is Intentionally
the other, but whatever he is, he is not
more now than he was when he was
re.nomnated and reelected by the
Republican party The Republicans
knew Sheriff Smith was as dense as a
| block Of wood about all business nat
| tiers, that he knew, and knows nothing
now, but horses; the republicans knew
| Sheriff Smith took too much tea for
his own good and the proper conduct
Of his Office: some republicans knew
that there were alleged small Difficult.
ties in Sheriff Smiths books; the re.
publcans generally knew Tom wasn't
the man for this positon--but they
re nominated and reelected him, for
despite his ncompetency and personal
| failings they believed Tom was an
! honest man, and he was a good fell
low"
row there are those who would
GUST him from the sheriif's Office be-
cause Of certain alleged discrepancies
in his second term, and for political
gain the democratic organ in its re-
ports OF proceedings seeks to make a
very prejudicial case against the de.
fendant. It's publication Of incidents
at the most recent action in the case
places Tom at serious disadvantage,
and this THE REPUBLICAN would re-
sent. Whatever has gone wrong,
Sheriff Smith is less responsible than
the republican party, and the party
should have protected him rather than
attempt to make him scapegoat for
its own criminal carelessness in elect
ing and re.electlng him to Office.
For Tom Smith Is no criminal He
may not be keeping set Of books that
would pass muster at bank, he may
have secured two fees for one action,
he may not have settled up this, that
and the other account each month as
the law directs, but none will believe
that Sheriff Smith has deliberately
intended TO dcfraud the county. Tom
isn't smart enough to attempt game
OF that kind, and we believe he is
smart enough to know that he isn't
Instead, Tom is one Of those fellows
who would probably look at all bust.
ness ways Of doing things as sort Of a
nuisance, having no grasp of the me-
cessty Of care in detail. Tom would
probably say to himself Jaw to hell
with all this bother. III keep track of
it all some way and If I'm owing any
thing when the time cones to settle
up, | guess Pm good for it all right.
They did that with Rigby and other
county officials, and then Tom
would go on serenely doing everything
in his own thoroughly unbusinessiike
way, but with no thought OF wrong
Sheriff Smiths crime was in wanting
the Office, no. in what he has done or
left undone in office. But up 10 date
he has not been convicted of anything
and may be proved guiltless of the
charges
| However, the case is on and the
County Attorney is but doing his
sworn duty in pushing it as hard as he
can But the defendant is entitled to
all the consideration ever granted any
man before the court. The outcome
Of this trial means everything to
Sheriff Smith and his family and he
should not be han dicapped by adverse
sentiment aroused 10y a democratic
organ, which seeks nothing but polti.
ca advantage.
SLcrltl Tom Smith and other party
rcncgadCs who went into a convention
with one Of the members of this firm,
were defeated by him and like coward.
| ~ bathrooms they skulked about at
night and at the polls accomplished
his defeat Under the circumstances
It can hardly be charged that THE
REPUBEICAN's expression now is the
result Of close friendship for Sheriff
Smith. 1t is not, aud instead Is only
matter Of justice as we see it, The
amount involved in Smiths
case is insignificant, tie county has
not been MOI is it now in danger of
financial ruin through him, the repub-
lican party elected him knowing his
faults, and at least in the custer pro.
ccedings against Sheriff Smith he
should not have the disadvantage that
comes with widespread prejudice
against him. The public should take
the democratic organs utterances in
this respect with large grain of salt.