The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-02-24
pEPusLIcAN PosT-MoRTEM.

There is something pathetic, not to
say humorous. in the gathering Of Re
publicans here today for the purpose of
impressing the legislators with the fact
that the Republican party of Utah is
for prohibition. 1t is pathetic, because
the delegates really believe they have
voice In the -cOUnsels of the party,
whereas they cut as little figure in its
affairs as Ute Indian OF PatagOnian
prospector. Their sole remaining privi-
Iege is to vote the ticket arranged for
them by the federal office-holders; their
only duty to say amen to whatever Is
proposed by Smoot and Booth and Cal
lister and Anderson. They are dunn
mics, automatons-and they have no
one to thank but themselves for that
condition of affairs.
, =
So far as. the object of the conven-
ton IS concerned, it can be nothing but
a post-mortem to determine how the
prohibition bill was killed. who killed it
and what penalty shall be recommended
for the assassins. 1t isn't a cheerful job.
particularly since the corpse was dear
ly beloved Of the coroner's jury, and an
inquest in such cases is -doubly painful.
But the inquisitors will be in position
TO learn a lot of things that may do
them good TO know. They will discover
that they have been buncoed by the
men they have trusted with unlimited
-
be convinced that the party organiza-
ton was sold outright to the liquor in
terests. and that the cry Of danger TO
the church, by which the Republicans
carried the election. was only a playful,
though effective device, to conceal the
real object of the campaign-the protec-
ton Of the liquor dealers and the sub
stantial financial support of the party
and it's organ. Further, they will find
that no pressure of public opinion, no
petitions, no moral considerations can
avail to prevent the contamination Of
that bargain and the delivery of the
votes necessary to kill any attempt at
legislation which does not suit the men
who bought the party with their cash.
<: \
While they are here, however, the
good folks who compose the convention
can spend their time profitably, if they
Will, in getting at the truth and devils
ing ways and means for the regenera-
ton of their party 1t is almost hope
less to expect Republicans to believe
E,.4
leaders, but the rank and file of Utah
Republicans ought by this time to be
convinced that something is rotten in
their organization, something that
should be changed for the better if the
party is TO regain the confidence and re-
spect Of the people. Clearly the syndi-
cate which controls now cares nothing
for either morality or decency. if 1t can
achieve success by sacrificing both.
Office, the power of patronage. the graft
Of machine control, illegal expenditure
of public money for the benefit of pri-
vate enterprise, the auction sale of leg
islation in advance-these are the chief
activities of the federal bunch: and so
long as they remain IN control of the
party the disgraeefuI history of the deal
with tie liquor interests will be repeat-
ed with variations limited only BY the
ingenuity of the party management in
its execution of political blackmai,
X x
Prohibition is dead. and by what
means its death was accomplished is
known. 1t were useless for the conven-
ton to attempt its resuseitation; but
there is an opportunity to do great
public service if the delegates TO the
Republican gathering can rise to the
. occasion. They can pave the way for
decency in their own party; they can
initiate movement to place the con-
troll of party affairs IN the hands Of the
party and take il from the little group
OF politicians that has used the party
so profitably and so consciencelessly for
personal profit; they can compel legis-
lation that viii clean out the dives and
restrict the power of the saloon for evil
And unless some such nfovement Is I'M
dertaken and carried through, they
may prepare to see both the party and
the men responsible for its disgrace