The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-11-23
THEY ENJOY, YET REVILE.

We have in this city the anomaly Of
which has TO be carried along even
against It's will by the progressive citi-
zens. These progressive citizens re.
deem the city from state Of lethargy
and put il upon n highway Of pros
pcrity, so that salt Lake is the admira
ton Of the whole country for Its en-.
terprise, It's progress, and it's uuparal-
leled record of building activity.
But all the time there is an ultra
conservative class here, represented by
unscrupulous and meudacious papers al
ways viciously against progress. and
the means through which progress
comes. They are disturbed and angry.
The American party has got the city
into such high rcputc as it has never
enjoyed before, and could not possibly
enjoy under any other circumstances.
And vet the rcactionary class is always
crying out against the American party,
is always dcnouncing what il does; and
the newspaper organs Of that class are
never ccasing in their assaults upon the
city. upon the American party. and in
their denunciation OF everything that
is done by the municipal administra
ton. According 10 these organs, salt
Lake City is bankrupt, the people are
being robbed and swindled, graft pre-
walls on every hand. and we have here
something far worse than even the Tam.
many administration OF New York.
OF course all those allegations against
the American party are false. The ad-
ministration has been straightforward,
clean, and business-like. The city is
not in the least danger of bankruptcy.
IL is not even short of funds. 1t has
plenty 10 make both ends meet and is
doing well financially in spite Of the
many public Improvements. the like Of
which was never known here before.
This reactionary class, which is max
ing such n clamor against the progress
of the city, and whose organs are as
sailing the municipal administration all
the time. misrcprcscnting facts, ard
pretending 10 wish the return TO the
old conditions when nothing was do
ing, are extremely eager, however, to
get all the benefits that the progrcs.
sivc, energetic advancement of the city
affords They raise the prices on their
property Just as everybody else does
with the increased efficiency OF the ad
with the marvellous growth
of the population cf the city and its
accretions of new wealth. They are not
the least backward in enjoying all the
Of the situation while rail
ing at that situation, and moaning at
the departure of the old times when
property was not worth half so much
as it is now, and was unstable at
that. 1T is n remarkable instance Of
conscienceless, unscrupulous ingTati
tude. That people who are in the en-
ioyment of the magnificent progress
and business push and growth which
prevail in this city are railing Mt the
very means which brought about these
admirable and satisfactory conditions
while enjoying the benefits Of them, is
such an anomaly in human nature and
in human affairs that IL could hardly
he believed, unless IL were established
to be true If such n remarkable trans
formation should have been made by
any political means in any city else
where, there would be an immense pub
lie sentiment and demonstration in rec
ognition Of the means whereby this had
been brought about. Here, however,
the hide bound bigotry of n certain
clique which sees its advantage in the
peonage of the masses of its mem
bers, rail and curse at the improve
ments, while at the same tine lining
their pockets thickly with the profits
which the mighty advance in business
and growth afford them.
For very shame. however, it would
seem that these grumblers should cease
their defamation of the city and would,
while so busily filing their pockets, at
least among themselves and TO their
own consciences (admitting that they
have thcm) confess that their opposi-
tion and their ratings are ungrateful
contemplate, and indecent