The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-10-26
WHAT is A REAcrIoNARYq

WHAT is A REAcTloNARY?
Regularly every year, our friends OF the American
party get a and apply Ii to their opposi-
ton. Last year they called everybody mossback
If he did not agree with them THIS they charge
that every one opposed to Bransford policies is
reactionary. 1t is pretty word. Let see what it
means:
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. In politics, one anxious TO
undo reform to return to outgrosn condition
of things
They angry apply the term to Mr. Murdoch Re-
publican candidate for mayor Especially since Mr..
NIurdoch's speech in the theatre Saturday evening.
the American party bosses have dwelt with great
fondness the brick which they call reactionary;
and they heave it at him.
But Mr.. Murdoch is not a reactionary. The defini-
ton does fit him. because the first place there
is reform in this city, in this county in this
state to which he is opposed; not which he would
undo And we may add that there is no real reform
for which the American party claim the credit.
So they have cause to attack him on that score.
And he does not want to go back "to an ottgrown
condition of things" Specifically Mr. Murdoch does
not want to back to the day of street paving,
OF no sidewalks, of no sewers. The charge will not
be believed by any who knows him, and every
in Salt Lake does There is honestly and
sonably progressive man in Salt Lake than is James
Murdoch.
But there may be framed another definition the
word reactionary, which commend to friends,
the bosses of the American party. 1t is this
Reactonary: One who is careful of other peoples
money entrusted to him: one who counts the cost
before he orders work to begin; who believes in
the old-fashioned rule Of justice and honesty and
rght.
For Mr.. Murdoch is that kind a reactionary-and
other. He voted against the paving of certain
streets because there was a clause in the contract
to the effect that the cys part of the payment
not to be made until after January first 1910. That
attempt to anticipate the revenues of a fu-
ture year If the council had a right to reach one
ahead and mortgage the income the council had
right to go years three years. or ten years
into the future, and pledge the income that future
to the expenditures of the present.
And the council had such right, because the
law specifically declares that the expenditures of no
year shall exceed the revenues of that year. And
the council violated that law-over the protest and
the negative vote of James Murdoch.
Mr.. Murdoch voted against Mayor Bransford's ac-
,tion in dismissng John Burbidge from the police
force because it clearly for the good of the
service Burbdge had been on the force for twenty
years. He had risen to the rank OF a captain He
was faithful and efficient officer an honest and
reputable man-as he is to this day The one objec-
ton to him that he was-and is-a Mormon And
the American party's foundation principle is meas
ureless and unending enmity to all Mormons.
Mr.. Murdoch voted against the dismissal of Tom
Pitt, chief of police Pitt had openly rebelled at
Mayor TRANSFORMS commands to drive the scarlet
women down into the stockade, and for that he was
ousted from office by the mayor But it was over
the protest and against the vote of James Murdoch
He voted against the appropriation of money for
the commercial travellers celebration, and if he had
not he would have done violence oath of office
The law plainly forbids the appropriatng of money
from the public treasury to any other than public
uses. Assisting society to make big celebration
no matter what that society may be- is a violation
Of law. And it cannot rightfuIly be done
Now, the limit Of the charge against Mr. Muir
the law. Any gentleman who wants TO oppose him
on that platform is at perfect liberty to do So
1t is the extent of his reactonary position When
the man is mayor he will uphold and obey the law
He will not disregard the statutes of the state He
viii not stamp upon his oath of office. He will not
aid the grafters by any act of dishonesty and he
viii not close his eyes to their devltry That may be
depended
On the other hand, he has spoken plainly his SEN
tments touching the matter of public Improvement
He will favor and assist paving, more sidewalks
more water service, more sewers-and every other
public work proposed-just fast and just as far
as the people want it, and long as the city has
money with which to meet its part of. the expen-
diture
If you people want more than that you want a
mayor who will not obey the law mayor who will
ignore his solemn oath of office; a mayor whose
pledged word to the people is not kept And you
want-in that Casa mayor who knows no superior
excepting that little band of discredited men, the
bosses of the American party.