The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-09-09
MAYORS ATTITUDE
IS REPUDIATED BY
PARTY ORGANIZATION

apparent favorable attitude of Mayor
John s. Bransford toward the removal of
the red light district to the west side
was severely criticised and his motives
in favoring the removal were questioned.
the American" club at its annual meet
ing in Judge Diehrs court room last even
ing adopted a resolution denouncing the
esta blishment of a new red light dis
trict and directing that legal steps be
taken toward the immediate dissolution of
the company controlling the proposed new
district.
The resolutions are looked upon as a
clever political move on the part OF the
Americans to offset the attack on the
city administration for the apparent ac-
quiescence in the plan and to shift the
responsibility of the removal onto NJ. A.
Breeder. the Republican attorney general.
whose duty IL was. so Judge Weber de-
clared during the discussion, TO dissolve
the charter of the company in control or
the new district.
Attack on Mayor.
Opposition to the adoption of the reso-
luton came from George Hancock and
Joseph Fowler. brother 70 A. S. Fowler,
the mayors secretary. The latter de-
clared that the adoption of the resolutions
would mean an attack on the policies of
the mayor and the city administration.
This brought out the attack on the mayor
led by Frank Sefrit. manager of the
American party organ. Mr.. Sefrit de-
clared that if the mayor favored the es-
Establishment of this district. he wanted to
attack the mayor. He said that II this
was the mayors position, then the mayor
had no foresight. or he was being misled
by others, or he had a motive that in
fluenced such action and If he had. 1t was
an Interior motive that the American
club could not stand for.
1t did not develop who was the author of
the resolution. p Edward Connor, the
secretary, said that il had been handed
to him to read. After the resolution was
read. Judge. A j. Weber and Captain III.
III. Kinsman moved its adoption. George
Hancock Immediately mOyed that II be
laid on the table. Joseph Cecil. who is a
candidate for the American" nomination
for justice of the peace ]. W. Mckinney,
a member of the law firm employed To
fight the removal of the district, Captain
II. II. Kinsman and others spoke against
the motion to lay it on the table declar-
ing that the principles OF -Americanism''
demanded that vigorous stand be taken
for the purity of the home in every
FORM and that this was a signal oppor-
tunity to prove that they were for de-
cency and morality.
Judge Weber at the Bar.
Judge Weber then handed George Han
cock one or two little blows. Il think that
il is IN American he said, Ito move
that matter should be laid on the table
before Ii Is debated on. Mr.. Hancock
seems unacquainted with the contaminat-
ing influence of such a district. | don't
know what the people of the west side in
tend to do in this matter. but / do know
if the red light district were placed out
in the Fourth ward. where / live. that if
the residents of that vicinity could not
drive ii out by law-well, accidents would
happen"
Joseph Fowler protested against tho
passage on the grounds that it would re-
pudiate the attitude taken by the mayor
and city council.
The Mayors Position.
he
shouted somebody.
well. if he does not acquiesce In the
removal of the district to the west side
he certainly does not oppose it," replied
Fowler.
We'll, then he ought to-" said ''Sanpete"
Armstrong.
Perhaps if he followed your instruc-
tions he would" retorted Fowler.
Frank Sefrit. who attended the meeting.
probably as the personal representative,
then secured the floor.
Sefrit Wants to Attack.
"If the administration favors the re-
moval of the red light district" he de-
clared. then I want TO attack the admin
istraton. II the administration will stoop
10 condone this nefarious business, then
want to attack the administration. If
the mayor favors this plan. he lacks fore
sight or he is being misled, or he has
some Interior motive in doing so, and it is
a motive that The members of this club
will not and must not stand for. How
ever. | refuse to believe that Mayor
Bransford would condone such an act OF
outlawry as this is
Il rise to point of personal privilege"
shouted Fowler. Il do not know what
the mayors attitude is. He has never
told me- | believe that If he is for the re-
moval of this nest of vice from the bust
ness center it is because he believes ii Is
for the best
THE bull pen idea of a red light dis
trict" continued Sefrit, originated with
Tom rPitt, and il was Immediately OPP
posed by nearly every American in the
city"
There was much more argument and
finally the resolutions were adopted unan-
imously The trustees of the club were
instructed to take the matter up with the
attorney general and ask that the char
Ter of the Citizens Investment company
be dissolved on the grounds that the
company was organized for an unlawful
nIlrDOep