The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-03-01

of city affairs. the only place where its
concrete workings offer any chance of
judgment.
The men and women who give the
American movement its real strength
are those who take little part in its
party caucuses or conventions. whose
wishes are not consulted in appoint
ments, whose vote is solely a vote of
protest against the elevation of an apos-
tie to the senate Nor are these prot
estants confined to nom Mormons, as the
vote in the last city election shows
plainly.
Some of the strongest Mormon dis
tricts in the city gave Bransford a ma
jority: his total vote. almost equalIing
that of both other candidates, shows
that an astonishing number of Nor
mons voted for Bransford. Only one
construction can be given such a result;
many Mormons are opposed to the pres
ence of an apostle in politics as a can
didate for Office. And that this is not
mere conjecture, some of the most &C
tive of Senator Shoots opponents with
in party lines are men of his faith, men
who are his personal friends. actuated
by the sincerest motives.
X x x
1t is not to be expected that men like
Callister and Spry and Booth and others
of the federal office holders who owe
their appointment to Smoot will acqui-
esce in the request for his retirement
His name and position are their main
stay in politics; his retirement followed
by a reorganization of the Republican
party, might mean their retirement
They have less desire for peace in Utah
and the restoration of legitimate poll
tics than they have for the retention OF
Office and control of their party.
But the rank and file of the Repub-
lican party, untrammeled by such con-
siderations, would gladly see the long
warfare ended. Many or them are bear
ing the burden of incessant attack on a
faith which is dearer to them than any
mans personal preferment; they have
yearned for peace long years and seen il
realized for a brief period, only to see
the battle renewed with all the old bit
terness and heartaches and loss until
they are weary of it.
X X =
1t might be hard for Senator Smoot tC
lay down his political honors and have
men say he quit under fire. 1t would bt
| a sacrifice for any man to give up such
preferment as he has won under sucf
difficult circumstances. But would any
really big man hesitate to make the sac
rifice when it would bring honor to his
name and peace with honor to his peo
pie? wouldn't it be a greater victory
| for him than any he could win in the
| political field? Can he afford not Il
make the sacrifice?
Two things only hold the American
party together: the spoils of office anC
| the prospect that Senator Smoot will b.
/ a candidate for reelection. In office tn
| Americans" are already discredited
their administration is a hopeless fail
ure-so hopeless that they can neve
win another city election on their rec
/ ord in office The announcement tina
! Senator Smoot will not be a candidate
/ for reelection would be followed imme
diately by the disintegration of tn
American party. Its irreconcilable
might still try to keep up the fight; tn
/ office holders might make a desperat
| effort to retain spoils; but the rea
/ strength of the party would be gone.