The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-06-10
SALT LAKES FAILURE.

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An analysis Of the vote on the pro-
posal to provide for a state capitol
building contains a number of instruc-
tive deductions, none of them particu-
larly gratifying to one who has a proper
pride IN his state or in its capital city.
OF twenty counties heard from only
three outside OF salt Lake favored the
proposal-Carbon, Emery and Grand.
Weber county cast 2,Ol6 votes, Of which
all but thirty were against the build
ing. Salt Lake, which is the capital
city. mustered only 3.4Ss votes all told.
and Of these al represented persons so
euriously constituted that they voted
against the interests of the state and
OF their own home city.
Having dropped the watermelon and
split il into fragments, there is no use
shedding tears about it. Primarily Salt
Lake citizens are to blame for the re-
suit and they deserve no other re-
ward. II a community of close to
100000 population hasn't public spirit
enough TO get out more than $500 votes
on so important a question, it has
earned no better fate than befell it in
this election. 1t may profit, however,
by this inevitable punishment for civic
Indifference. individual laziness and a
fatal division Of effort due to political
jealousies and peanut unwillingness to
permit any undertaking TO succeed if it
may possibly inure to the credit of an
unpopular coterie.
Whether the activity of the federal
bunch in the matter had anything to
90 with its defeat OF not is immateriaI.
In so far as Governor Spry forwarded
the legislation involved in the proposal,
he is entitled to large credit. and none
but a small mind would conceive the
notion OF injuring Salt Lake by an ad-
verse vote solely because the governor
might possibly benefit politically. AS
IL Is. the smallness of the vote shows
that political motives played a small
part in Salt Lakes action; the trouble
lay in the indifference of her citizens.
the lack of that permanent. harmonious
organization which has made cities like
Los Angeles great. If one-tenth Of the
energy shown in the Y. NJ. c. A. can
vass had been shown in the capitol
election, there would have been no
doubt as TO the outcome.
Naturally. Salt Lake VIII regard the
attitude of the outside counties, par
ticularly Of Weber county, with feel
ings of resentment. What possible
profit can come to any outside commu-
nifty by injuring the chief city of the
state and retarding its improvement?
The interests of all the counties are
identical to this extent. that what ben
efts one helps all. To refuse a capitol
building to the state cannot affect Salt
Lakes primaCy; the only immediate
effect is To announce to the outside
that its people are so jealous Of one an
other that TO large undertaking like
the capitol building can hope to be car
ried. That is not good advertising for
any commonwealth. and the worst suf-
ferers from it viii be the people in the
outside counties who are anxious to
have foreign capital help develop their
agricultural and mineral resources.
Whether one looks at the matter as a
citizen of Salt Lake or from the broader
viewpoint of a citizen OF a great state.
nothing but regret car come of it. For
salt Lake the lesson is so obvious that
it may eventually bring about good.
There should be a stronger, better or
ganized civic spirit: there should be no
small political iealousies where a mat
ter OF such grave importance TO the city
is at stake: there should be no question
Of politics at all, rather should there be
a determination 20 work hard always
for anything that can benefit the city.
II the defeat Of Tuesday serves to drive
home that lesson. it may prove whole
some thing.