Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-06-28
PATRIOTIC SUGGESTIONS.

, be persuasive rather than cocrsipe.B
| They should be elastic enough to re-,
ward delegates attending conventions,
provided that specific regulations were
complied WITH and should extend to
the favor of the leading party out OF
power tts well as to8the one in power
but not to every combination that.
would assume the role of q party.
1t is time for the people to take n
more active part In politics, in order to
remedy social conditions brought about
Through imisapplied methods of 81 free
government. We boast of, a free conn-
try, wherein all citizens may take
part in the management OF its affairs,
but we neglect the privileges extended.
to us. by failing to perform our duties
when opportunities are ripe, and con =
sequentlXsWe are often not SO free as
we would like to be in these matters
as was proven in our last giSlaturei
when our prayers and petitions We're
set aside for. or defeated,
Ii we are going to be secure from
the damniIls, influences which lurk in
the cup, we must prevent the support
3ers OF such traffic from sitting in our
Legislative halls. Let the first avenues
to such position be guarded. as against
Endorsements of sentiment and rail-
roading schemes of tricksters. Some
of our methods need to be tumhled
Etopsy turvy in order to get the right
side up. Instead of a few politicians
planning the campaigns, and leading
out for the spells ofsofyicc, let a sound,
harmonious whole representation of the
people take the lead. Let first the
State have a well equipped board of
governors for each political party
Prior to an election such boards should
meet and survey the realms Of the
commonwealth, and make a fair and
impartial proposed distribution OF off-
gces to be filed. County organizations
should be in close touch with the state
board on the one hand and with the
precinct organizations on the other, so
that offices conceded to any part might
receive prompt consideration At a.
second or third meeting of the State
board a suggestive ticket should be
formulated and published so as to give
ample time for changes should 1t be
necessary. This would give opportun-
{ity for criticism and careful scrutiny
of candidates. County affairs should
be handled In the same manner. 1t
is a poor time to crticise, Or attempt
to defeat candidate after his name
has been placed upon the ticket. and
he has received the stamp and approval
of a convention. Let us now have can;
didates examined by public opinion,
and worthineSS before we give them
their tickets and check their baggage
for the election train, which should be
fired. steamed and manned by popular
approval Of the peoples representatives
( in convention assembled. b
III Thorough organization is What we
need. THE very fact that we are SO
poorly organized for election duties
has been a boon to the aggressive as
ipirants, and Indifference to the vital
duties of citizenship by the common
people, has been the shadowy trail that
many have Travelled on before they
sprang upon the public platform to
ask for recognition, We need educa-
ton in these lines, orNat least to be-
reminded occasionally Of what It re-
quires to I'LL the post OF a good, wide
awake citizen.
The following article appeared in tho
Deseret News of May 81, 1909: Some
years ago the president the American
Civic Association asked a prominent
citizen of a, Western city some qles-
lions and the replies received Illustrate
very we'll the general condition of ig-S
norance, or apathy, that prevails. The
Following dialogue took place:
What Is the debt of your city2'
"a I'll don't know
..|.Is there a. legal limit to the bond
ed debt, and has it been reached?
Indeed, have forgotten.
& = e Do you remember the tax rate 2
5ss -. = !. II I--well, It's pretty high.
3.$$.l5.'.5.What is the total valuation, or as
sessment. for tax purposes 2 5
If Let me see: / think 1t Is about-no,
L don't remember.
.5'tt'Do you know what the basis of
the assessment is?'
..It seems to me it is about full vail
5uation. Wait: no. its f5 per cent, 1
think. You see,tI don't look after these
things. / am mot In politics.
Nr-,
prevalent, and much of 1t could BE-
sfittingly dispelled by treating on such
topics in such gatherings rs first spok-
en- 4 or in this article FL j.