Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-08-10
CUTTING 1T OUT.


teal majority of the city council, ex-
pressed himself, at the council meet
ing on Thursday, to the effect that
the papers having made dirty fight
against the bond issue should he cut
out of all patronage by the administra-
tion
That is about the funniest thing Mr.,
Martin has said during his official
career, in view OF the fact that the
boycott of the opposition press of salt
FAKE. by the so-called American ad-
ADMINISTRATION. has been in vogue for
years we do not blame the admin
istration a great deal. II is under OBJ
legation to an organ that has TO be
maintained, partly, out of the public
funds. and an economic administration
cannot, of course, spend money reck.-
lessly. All the same. 1t Is very funny
to hear a councilman threaten to take
away a patronage that has no exist
ence.
But Mr. Martins logic is not only
humorous 1t is also contrary TO pre-
cedent. The Tribune fought the pro-
position to issue bonds for the Increase
Of our water supply a few years. In
fact. il made dirty fight against the
bonds at that time to use the elegant
adjective of the councilman, 1t fought
that bond issue after the citizens had
authorized II. and made 1t necessary
for the council to send special repres-
entatives back cast and to prove the
legality of the issue. But for all that,
the so-called American administration
magnanimously gave the Tribune all
the patronage 1t wanted, at Its own
figures, SO Mr.. Martin in his boy
colt speech.--argued against a most
illustrious precedent.
He should be reminded, however,
that the papers which the numerical
majority of the council are boycotting
because they refused TO support their
demand for more borrowed money
smoke for very nearly half of the com
munity, as demonstrated at the polls.
And among the citizens whose fight
for their homes Mr.. Martin character
ICES as dirty were thousands as
clean. morally and otherwise, as any Of
their detractors. 1t comes with pretty
bad grace for public official In an
official meeting to brand an opposition
which very nearly fifty per cent of
the taxpayers have sustained by their
intelligent vote, as dirty"
That IL not the language of a SER
want Of the people who realizes the
dignity OF his position. Even partisan
fanatioism does not excuse an insult
to the voters who by their votes de-
clared against a bond issue at this
time, and for whom the opposition
press spoke.
The boycott Is a two edged sword,
and IT may cut" to both sides. We
take it that Mr.. Martin has bust
ness, and we hope "A thriving one, Now,
suppose that the Taxpayers who voted
against him, as they had a right to
do. should retaliate by boycotting him.
we presume, in that case, he would
change his opinions as to the virtue
Of his transportation for retalia-
ton We do not advocate boycott
It is no more respectable than black
councilmen are justified, in public
opinion, in taking any measures of
revenge against any citizens because
OF a difference OF opinion on public
questions.
If puniic servants could realize the
Importance of their position In the pub
lie service. they would use their in
nuence for the restoration of peace
end good win where strife prevades
They would emancipate themselves
from party dictation and devote their
time to the interests OF the public They
would pour oil upon troubled waters,
and not upon the flames lighted by
egoism. They would become great
and useful by the aid OF the people.
We hope that public servants viii real
izo, some day, that, IN their Offices
they belong TO the people and not to
party bosses,