Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-07-08
MAYOR BRANSF0RD
IS STANDING PAT
Elected BY the People He Be-
Iieves Principle Above Party
Should Prevail.
HIS REPLY TO "PERsuADERS."
says when Party Allegiance Conflicts
With Public Welfare Common Good
or People should BE Considered.

That Mayor Bransford stands for
principle above party, and for the pea
pie above partisanship, even to the ex-
tent of creating fatal breach be-
tween himself as mayor Of the city and
lhe spoilsmen OF the rule or ruin in
ner circle" ring, is now shown in
d letter addressed by the mayor TO the
4 Committee Appointed to Present Re-
solutions" to his excellency while he
WAS away IN California.
When Charles r. NaH was dismissed
3 from HE head of the city fire depart
ment, FOR the good of the service,
and James Devine was named as his
successor, Mayor Bransfnrd left the
city for his summer vacation and spent
&ten days In California. When ii bc,
81 came known that the mayor had APP
81 pointed man not an avowed Amer
n lean as CHIEF of the fire department.
the spoilsmen became furious and i'm
nediately an indignation meeting was
s. called TO protest against the "unwal-
ranted, unpalriUtic action" as ii was
& designated by the henchmen OF the
II timer circle"
As one prominent American am
hounced, some of them got busy
ana on The night of Friday, June 20
while the mayor was Yet absent on
his vacation, the indignation meeting
Was held lin Eastmans han, and resu-
{ lullons condemniug the mayor for his
unkmd action, made without The sane
4 iloil and approval OF the inner cir
Gle, and without even consulting the
o.acies, self-appOnted and self-sus-
tanned. The mayor was ruked up one
] side and narrowed down the other: ms
action was denounced as unpatriotic
ana uhWarranted; lie was called 10 ac-
! count for not consulting the chiefs Of
Nty ON such an important APP
I polntment, which, If Judiciously placed.
might bring into the lap of the Amer
teams large numbers of votes in the
( iaH. In fact, the eNortation admin
iStered to his honor the mayor was
enough 10 strip the cuticle from an
+. ordinary American time server But
did Mayor BrausCord bulge?
Here is his letter. in answer to tl,e.
4 resolutions" adopted by the Infatuated
& spoils harpies of the party Of greco
and ruin, who in public Indignation
meeting assembled delivered them
selves OF strong castlgation, ad-
4 dressed TO Mayor Bransford:
TO the Committee Appointed to Pre-
q sent Resolutions-Gentlem The res-
x buttons which. / am informed, were
adopted by what purports to have been
meeting of the district chairmen and
workers of the state. county and CITY
committees of the American party.hcld
IN this city on Friday evening. June 96
lypS, have read very carefully ana
FhhNe given them my most earnest con-
esideration
IA In replying thereto / trust chat
Il snail make my position ON the matter
in controversy thoroughly understood
In view of the fact that the resolu-
& tons referred to call upon the mayor
- N Atta l.
Il city council to modify their attitude
q in relations to the appointment of a
a cAief of the Salt Lake City fire DEPART
Il ment, | shall only presume to speak for
s. myself. as mayor. knowing, as ! do,
n mat each councilman is fully capable
q OF speaking for himself,
81 ELECTED BY PEOPLE.
a when at the recent city election
81 The people of this city by an over
q whelming plurality Of votes elected me
81 to the office of mayor, IL was upon a
~ platform that / should to the best OF
e my ability render faithful and bust
~ ness administration. made II then
Ell understood that the interests of the
"a people as a whole would at all times
81 and in all situations receive my best
I attention the results of an experience
~ covering Il period of over 80 years of
III business and public career, Imbued
81 with this determination, ] entered upon
II he duties of this Office and ] desire
81 10 say that | have failed to. thus far.
81 see any reason why | should alter the
q resolution then made.
81 During my political career I have
q frequently been honored with positions
n of trust, but l have yet for the first
q time 10 hear any intination that
81 have ever been lacking in party loyalty.
q Notwithstanding this fact my senti-
81 ments have always been and ] sincere
81 ly hope. will always be. that when
q party allegiance conflicts with the pub
81 lie welfare 1t is my sworn aud sacred
81 duty TO subordinate party considera-
n tions TO the interests and the common
Il good Of all tho people.
SAMPLE RESOLUTION.
Far be It from me to Intimate that
you, gentlemen, are not equally desir-
Gus with myself to promote The best
4 interests of the city. Nevertheless the
\ position which you have assumed in
regard to the subject under discus
sion, as well as the reasons 5ou have
given for that position, are II would
seem TO me, opposed to sound policy.
The following excerpt from the resolu-
lions is, II seems to me, illustrative OF
this fact;
Neither the mayor nor the head OF
any department of the city government
the people of this c,ty Tor the faithful
and honest management and conduct
OF its affairs" etc
This Is a conclusion In which [ can,
not acquiesce.
CONSULTED WITH COUNCIL.
al am not unmindful OF the fact that
there will come time when the party
which AT present controls the affairs -
the municipality must make an ae
counting to the people for the commits
sion Il received from them. Realizinl
this. / have never adopted any coursl
I'm relation To any matter OF conso
uuence without first consulting with tn
American members Of the city coun
ell. This rule was followed In the Sc
lection of chief Of the fire depart
4 mont. Happily thus far there has neve
4 been any serious breach between Tia
n executive and legislative department
of the city, but, on the contrary. IN
e most perfect harmony has obtained be
tween the two departments
Furthermore i'm ndopting certall
nlans and measures affecting tho ped
pie, l have NOT only sought counsel an'
advice from the American party rep
resentatiyes In the city council. but
have courted suggestions from othe
Fl members OF the party aud from al
Il classes Of citizens, and there has neFe
h,en time when any one, regarlles