The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-05-01

support Of the company's case as it
desired, or because the police did not
openly take up the cause Of the COM
pany. If the company intended to rely
ON the police, or expected to have any
occasion for any special service Of the
police, it should have at least treated
the police department as fairly as it
did the sheriff s office, and give them
equal notice. The notice came, how"
furry was over, in the shape of re-
proaches and recriminations for not do
ing the things that it had not been
asked to do.
Another thing important III this mat
ter is, that the police force of this
city, as has been insisted upon hun
dred times in the past, is far too small.
1t has been shown repeatedly that Salt
Lake s proportion Of policemen to the
total number Of inhabitants is far be-
low that of any other city of it's class
in the United States. Salt Lake is a
metropolitan city. We have here a
commingling of races from all over the
world, We have the European races
from the frozen north to the sunny
Mediterranean and the Aegean; we
have the natives Of the islands OF the
great seas; we have Asiatics, Japanese,
Chinese of different varieties, Kanakas,
and mixed bloods Of many kinds. In
other cities this sort of mixed popula-
tion is held to be sufficient warrant
for the increase Of the police force, and
making it unusually stronr, IN place
of making it unusually weak, as Is
done here, in numbers.
We say these things not to excuse
the police, and not to apologize to any
body. but merely as an explanation due
to the public in view of recriminations
and virulent assumptions and assertions
that have been made by an unprincipled
press. falsely, and for no good public
reason The only motive in making such
assertions has been to "play politics, -
and to reap such despicable advantage
out of the situation as ward heelcrs
might suppose to be possible, without
any regard whatever to fact or to the
actualties Of the case. The truth of
it is that recriminaCion is entirely out
Of place in this matter, and especially
any assaults upon the American party;
particularly since it was the American
mayor who brought the matter to the
point where 1t was finally settled; and
the police department, in spite Of the
announcement that nothing could be ex.
pectcd from it in the way of protection
to life and property, prevented any ma
terial destruction of property or the in
Fiction of any severe injuries upon any.
one. And it is good to sec that the
opposition Councilmen fully and frank
ly recognize this fact.
The strike has passed by with an I'M
usually clean score in the matter of
rioting and damage to person and TO
interests involved. The street car en-
ployees carefully refrained from any
hostile demonstrations. The city can
itself on these two facts,
and the American party can justly
claim a record that is noteworthy for
efficiency for public service, and for the
NAOSbiNS bi@iS lux HpSNtoSi VI thS WV
parties to the controversy. Mayor
Thompson has the thanks of the labor
element, and he has the confidence also
Of the men of property and influence,
and of the managers of the street car
He is honorcd by all, as he
deserves TO be; in this same connection
his orders to the police department
were precisely such as a Mayor ought
to give. The whole matter has passed
by with but little inconvenience to the
public or TO either of the contestants,
and to the distinguished credit of the
American party municipal administra,
tiou. Any attempt to persuade the pub
lie to the contrary is doomed to n dis
NAL failure.
And everybody is rejoicing that the
trouble is ended, with such good feel
ing all around, and so bright pros.
pccr ahead for permanent peace,
nrYr, IN5nrrDrHTrr or Tnt