The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-11-05
IN THE STATE.


Utah have been out of office so long
and are in such a hopeless minority
that they have attained the judicial
disinterestedness which makes them
accurate observers of such a cataciysm
as overlook them on Tuesday.
They were defeated by a combination
of religious and political influences that
would have beaten the best orgeniza-
ton on earth with archangels for can
didates. And yet 1t is a matter Of
pride for the few remaining members
Of the party that they did not finch
to bear on the Mormon members of
the party by their church leaders. They
emerge from the fight with the con-
sciousness that they have gone 10 eX-
pected defeat firm I'm their determine
ton TO stand by their principles: and
that fact IS worth about az much 10
them as victory can be to the men who
won by dishonorable means.
One amazing result developed in the
figures of the election: the Americans"
who Were confident Of carrying the city
and county actually lost ground as
compared with their vote in the city of
a year ago-and they lost because their
own party followers deserted them.
| Part of this was due TO the presidential
election and part to the abuse which
distinguished the American cam
paign. The threat in Senator Cannon
speech to send the Mormon leaders
into exile or TO prison in case his party
won. was as ridiculous as 1t was I'M
wise in strategy. No sober, intelligent
man could take il seriously. yet it was
circulated among the credulous with
damaging effect. and it disguised the
Independent voters who prefer sane
leadership in party affairs. 1t afforded
an excuse for such open exercise of
as has not been seen here in a genera
ton; and while the excuse was f1imsy.
it secured liberation at the hands OF
Mormons who would not otherwise
have been coerced into deserving their
convictions in things political.
The only result of the election is to
prolong the trouble in this state Hav-
ing had no part in its origin, deploring
its existence and fearing that it is to
be a permanent condition for years. the
Democrats still have no sympathy with
either side to the controversy and will
still maintain their organization I'm the
hope they may contribute to the re-
turn OF peace however long deferred.
The men elected :. are neither
conspicuously bad nor surprisingly
good They are the product of a ma
chine with ell the faults of their kind,
but they are generally known as hon.
est citizens and some OF them are bet
ter than the average. Elated by sue
cess. they VIII probably take occasion
to utilize their power for the further
Strengthening of the Smoot organiza-
ton Since they have no opposition.
not even a minority opposition worth
considering. they are likely TO abuse
their power and eventually compass
their own undoing.
Mr. Spry, the governor-elect is an
unknown quantity in responsible ex-
ecutive position and will be directed
largely by his superiors in the machine.
1t may be taken for granted that he
will be honest that he will handle the
states affairs to the best of his ability
and that his appointments will be lin
tied to the faithful followers OF his
faction of the Republican party. The
state would have done much better to
have elected Mr.. knight; Il might also
have Jared worse.
The legislature will be overwhelming
" Republican and will elect Senator
Smoot to succeed himself What that
means is known now by the record of
his term in office. Whether another eff
fort will be made to Unseat him is not
known though It has been threatened
vaguely. If IL is made il will be a
fools errsnd and win deserve failure.
Apart from his legal right to the seat,
this administration and its successor
are committed TO support Of his cause
and II would be as easy to unseat
Aldrich or Beveridge as TO disturb
Shoots hold on the place. Six more
years OF Smoot is before us.
In county affairs the old regime will
be continued with some change in the
personnel OF officehOlders. The same
methods. the same extravagances the
same unwillingness to employ anyone
not vouched for by the Republican
officeholders' syndicate, II not always
and entirely free from graft: and il
affords a certainty that the city and
county administrations will be in con-
slant clash with each other instead Of
working together as they should
Altogether il is dreary outlook from
the opposition point of view. and yet
not altogether hopeless so far as the
actual administration of public affairs
is concerned.