The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-10-22
THE ELECTORAL DECISION.

The decision of the Supreme Court on
the matter OF the resignation Of the
Republican electors from the American
party ticket. was hardly surprise to
this community and few will be shocked
by it, OF course the reasoning of the
court is plausible, and strong enough,
undoubtedly, to convince the Judges
who concurred in the decision, of the
Justice and legality Of their views. AZ
the same time we cannot refrain from
suggesting that an equally candid and
| probably stronger opinion might have
been given Just as honestly on the other
side of the question. 1t is not worth
while TO 90 into review of the pre-
sentations made by the Judges We
consider 1t political partisan decision,
and as such no doubt it will be accepted
by the public. There is nothing particu-
larly unusual in this. however, because
the Judges of the courts, being parti-
sans, arc not above the common weak
nesses of humanity. Even the great
Judges of the United States Supreme
Court who were made part OF the elec-
toral commission in getting ut the de
termination of the Presidential election
of 1876, all followed their political pre-
dilections liz rendering their judgments,
And that has been the rule generally
IN the courts of the country. IL is not
surprising, therefore, that the Utah iu-
dietary should be subject TO tbe same
weaknesses that have attached TO courts
elsewhere.
And now that the Smootites have sue
ceeded in knocking of from Mr.. Taft s
support very large section If the vote
that would otherwise be cast for him,
the American Republicans have a. plain
case before them, They are not able 20
vote for the Taft electors on their
straight ticket. OF course they have no
intention Of voting for the Smoot ticket
any other reason whatever, The most
of them who consider the Presidential
vote pressing, can probably without
any trouble vote for the Taft
electors and also vote the Ameri-
can State, judicial district, and
are uncertain as 20 their ability |
to manipulate the voting machine to
vote with certainty for the Taft cleo |
tors and also the local American ticket. |
The most of these will probably ignore
the Presidential ticket and cast a
straight American ballot, without ref
.rence 10 the Presidential electors at
all The votes that Mr.. Taft will lose
through this process will be plainly
.hareeablc By the Republican National
committee TO the Smoot management
IF Utah. And If through any mishap II
should occur that Taft might lose the
State thereby, none but the inconlpe-
cnt and vicious Smoot management
would be held accountable for it,
On the other maud the Democrats,
With true political sense and loyalty to
heir National ticket, throw the course
vide open for any one TO vote for Bryan
N any sort Of ticket that they wish
o get up. Accordingly, the American
Democrats will have no difficulty in
'otiug for thc Bryan electors. The
american Bryan ticket will be a
traigbt ticket. easily voted, without
my chance of making n mistake, and
With the good will OF the Democratic
TO every ono who thus votes
or Bryan.
1t may be, OF course, that the Smoot
lanagers rely upon the church 10 give
[r. Taft such n vote in this State as
;lll overcome all handicaps and OBJ
iacles that they themselves place in 4
he way of those who may wish to vote
Or Mr.. Taft. Perhaps the church has
sufficient controlled vote TO do this, c
nd if so the treacberous tactics which I
ne Smootites arc displaying toward l
Ir Taft may thus be covered up. But {
n the other hand, if the church does l
OF hnd itself able TO swing enough t
otes in that direction to overcome the r
llse tactics of the Smootites, then the q
cd effects of those tactics will be ap-
aren't and a political accounting will J
ave 10 be made to the National Re q
nblican committee. And when that ac- j
,untiug is demanded and is made, there 6
Ill be good many long ears that will +
urn. {