Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-01-29
WHY THE ASSAULT?


the police force. Ii the report is true,
it is regrettable, AS the Herald points
out:
MANY citizens not generally In sym
pathy with the American party voted
tor MIR. BranstOrd last tal under the
ln.Lfa sl. That he would not submit
TO dictation from any faction cirque Or
newspaper. The fact that he has
done 50 may give his party temper
airy advantage but 1t cannot fail to
be aisastro4a in l4e end, not only to
his party but to the City"
Captain BUrDidge is accused of no
offense II was said that his resigna-
tlon was requested because he had been
attacked by a newspaper. But that is,
surely no reason. If every public ser
want were to step out of office when
ever he becomes the object of an at
tack of vicious journalists, our govern
ment, both national and local. would
not exist day. We would certainly
have no President and we would have
no governors, and no mayors. for no
position is exempt from newspaper as
saults. Captain Burbidge is admitted TO
be a good faithful, ana capable officer.
He has been loyal to every chief under
whom he has served Why, then, should
he be removed2
Captain Burbidge is man who esti-
mates his duty to the public at a high
er value than party interests. Inc
story goes that he Was appointed
delegate to the last so-called "Amerl-
can" conventions; that the appointment
was made TO test his party loyalty, and
that he failed to I'LL the appointment
For this. It is said, his removal is de-
manded. The Captain, we take it, did
not consider the police department
part OF the American party machine.
Will the general public regard that as
crime? We believe not. No city can
afford to entrust the guardianship of
public morals to an organization that
exists for the furtherance OF party In
terests. Any public officer. or employe,
who must divert his attention from his
official duties aud devote his time and
energies to the advocacy and promotion
of any political party or any person
who may be interested in a campaign
is not fit for his position. 1t has been
well said In the Senate lately that
an employee, DESTROYS of taking part in
campaign. should give up his office,
partisan activity being Incompatible
with the efficient performance of pub
lie duties. which concern citizens of all
parties.
Politics cannot he permitted to pen
citrate the various branches OF the gov
eminent, without disastrous results. We
are informed that politics In the Fire
Department is costing the business
men of this City about 25 per cent more
in insurance than they ought to pay. II
seems that information to this effect
was forwarded some time ago, to TIM
proper officials, by insurance agents,
who promised that much lower
rate, IL the department were organized
gs 1t ought to be- The business men
are paying heavily for the policy of re-
gardlng the Fire Department as spoils
10 be distributed as rewards for poliu
cal services But the City would pay
still more for an inefficient police force.
which II is sure to have when appoint
meats are not by merit, but by favor.
But, perhaps, the real reason why
the slave drivers Of the party demand
Captain Burbidge's removal is this, that
they are afraid of having anyone em-
pioyeo anywhere VINO ls not with them
III everything we may infer this from
what the party organ said some time
ago Then II demanded the removal
nom puoiic once ana employ OF al not
Known TO DC solld party numbers Inc
organ ealleu them spies ihtimatns
that certain secrets We're TO be guarded
very closely III vie" OF thiS repre-
sentation II would be Just as Well per
maps Tor the non American mem
Eers OF the Guy council TO institute an
investigation OF me various depart
Hehls' as wen as 'he hIaHci"I opera
''ohs py whi'h 'he CITY money mas
pfth squahueTea 10 the extent Ihat all
ot'ci luH" '1Sue 10 seriously a'heH
ABOUT II inc S"-ealleu American
parry 70 anxious 10 make the city the
N'c'lm ro'le" party politics. II would
be Just Il wen Tor somebody who Is IN
IA, UF-