The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-12-10
/. SPECIMEN AMERICAN"

A SPECIMEN "AMERICAN."
Harper ]. Dininny. city attorney by
the grace OF the american" party and
the people of Salt Lake, energies from
the solitary grandeur of his office to
take a hand in the latest muddle of the
CITY administration Harper is forninst
the MAYOR. and that is only natural, be-
cause Harper is consttutionally and
everIastingly forninst somebody. This
time he is a rcformer. having pledged
himself in a moment Of forgetfulness
and campaign enthusiasm against the
moving of the criminal classes to the
west side
This office" proclaims Dininny.
will fulfill the promises made by US
and the American party before the
election We will prosecute everyone
who attempts TO conduct the illegal
business in the alleged red light dis
trict." And more TO the same effect
Observe the delicacy of the city at
torney's position. He has been in office
quite a while. too long some critics
think. but he has never been moved to
prosecute the criminals who Piled, and
stin ply. their trades in the heart of the
city. Haunting vice before the eyes OF
all observers. voting the American"
ticket with great regularity, until re-
Gently. and inviting the disguised at
tention of every citizen-except the city
attorney.
But the mayor believes the criminal
element should be moved TO a less con-
spicuous location and brought under
closer police supervision, whereupon
Dininny promises to prosecute them if
they move. The question arises. wheth-
er the city attorneys sudden spasm Of
official activity is due more to his dis
like of the criminal or his desire to en-
barrass the mayor. of whose admins
tratiOn he is a conspicuous, IL not use
full. member? Are we to infer that
continued residence in Commercial
street will secure Immunity from prose-
cution for the criminals at the hands of
the city attorney? Or is Dininny suf-
fering from a chuckle-headed ambition
To be regarded as the real handspring
of municipal government? Or is he
only indicating anew his unusual felicity
in the gentle art Of muddling anything
on which he ventures an opinion? In
any event, he is openly committed to
the remarkable position he has as
sumed that a crime is not crime TO be
prosecuted by his Office until it gets off
of Commercial street
x
Dninnys effusion is of interest only
rs a symptom az the general break
down that has overtaken the "Ameri
can" party. Mayor Bransford. who is
saddled with the chief responsibility for
the party in its city government, has
won the dislike, not To say more. of
Dininny and the others like him. who
believe that the mayor should he gov
erned by self-constituted. irresponsible
advisors: that he should he subject to
tie ADVISORS only instead of to the
whole body of citizens; that appoint
ments executive action. councilmanic
legislation. all the functions of munich
pdl SoAtl SuOuiN NC uiluCt Tie
control OF the politicians who hold no
elective office. and would not be trusted
by the people in any capacity.
Bransford's offending. his sincere de-
sire to do what he thinks is best for all
the people. has led him into conflict with
these dictators of his party. but il has
also won for him the regard of that
large element in the community which
appreciates disinterested public service
and respects him even though il may
not always agree with his opinion as to
what is best. It is a matter for re-
greet that he cannot count upon the sup
port of his own party, since dissension
means Inevitable injury to the city as
we'll as difficulty for the mayor; but no
one cognizant' Of the real situation will
hold the mayor to blame for insisting
upon being mayor in fact as well as in
name. The opposition he has encoun-
tered is OF Itself a certificate OF fidelity
To his official obligations. evidence that
he would rather fight the politicians
within has Own organization for what
he believes 10 be right. than purchase