Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-10-14
TiIAT AWFUL CRIME.

+ =
Of the moral consequences of the un-
+ present. There have been many SINH
lar reminders. This Is another in
scrtbed in letters of blood upon the
pages Of our records. that should cause
us all to pause and reflect. What is the
4 matter with Salt Lake?
Ordinarily III American cities, the
struggle for government positions is
! between parties the leaders and mem
beers OF which are good American citi-
gens, determined to give the city, tho
county, or the state. as the case may
be-. good government If the Demo-
Gratis win they want to give tho people
their best efforts. If the Republicans
win, they desire to do the same. And
under good government life and prop
erty are safe, as rule. The criminal
element shuns well governed cities, for
gself-evident reasons.
T Salt Lake City has for some years
been the trysting-p place of criminals of
all classes. And the reason for that
Is. that we have an un- American gov
eminent that does not scorn the Cup
port OF the lower strata Of society.
The american" party was formed
with the object In view of helping am
bitious office seekers to high positions
for which they are entirely unfit; and
incidentally. to give the party leaders
the control OF the public funds. There
was no need OF a new party. There
was no excuse for IT. 1t was personal
matter entirely. But In order to give 1t
an air OF Responsibility the Infamous lie
was proclaimed throughout tho coun-
try; from one end to another, that the
Church was revivins plural marriage
and was meddllng in politics. On the
strength OF this black falsehood crafty
leaders succeeded In gathering around
them a motley crowd and to seize the
City government
The very fact that a party Is with
out American principles: that 1t ~
founded on personal ambition and held
together by falsehoods and selhshness,
prccludes the possibility OF good gov
crnment through such party. Such
party leaders cannot, without sacriflc-
ins.i their own dear, selfish interests,
give to the people efficient officials
They have to see that tools" arc elect
ed and appointed. And the tools" must
serve not the people but the party
bosses. They must be politicians. Il
they are employed in an auditors office
they must know how to juggle with
figures. II they expect a contract they
must set men to work, who arc faith
ful TO the party, whether they can do
d days work or not. II they are on
the police force they must not arrest
the criminal that can be depended on
for votes. They must not close the
saloon that violates the law, though
they know that the den Is the gather
Ing place OF thieves and murderers.
They must not close n brothel, because
= Ii is the home o. vote Satter:. They
must keep on the safe side of law
breakers that can furnish votes for the
a party.
Salt Lake City has for years been
the scene Of insane politics. more or
less modified. and the result is seen in
the Increase of theft. burglares. hold
ups, murders. 1t is the fault of u
false system OF politics that has been
forced upon the City by selfish aspir-
ants for office. through the support
or ignorance and bigotry us dense as
the darkness in Egypt.
This Is not the first time the city
81
as Il result of n false system of poll
tics. Those who remember the days
of "libcral rule"-revived In the Amer
+ lean" party--will remember that toughs
gathered here In such numbers that
u the main streets were unsafe after
dark. They will remember that mat
tiers came to such n pass that the peo-
pie had to hire private watchmcn to
patrol the blocks, SO that they could
go to sleep with some degree of safety,
the police being unable, or unwilling,
to protect the City. Finally, ministers
OF various churches, who had helped to
put that party in power conscience
stricken called q ass-mecting to pro-
test against the outrageous conditions.
The citizens were awakened to their
duty, and by and by the remedy was
applied. at the polls
There is no other way to right what
is wrong. The people here win have
to correct the political anomaly created
by the injection into local politics i.f
an antiChurch Issue. The people viii
have to restore normal conditions. They
VIII never. have good government until
this Is done.
We sympathize with the bereaved
family. We hope the murderer will be
captured and dent with according to
law; but Of that there is small prospect
at present. And then we hope the peo-
z pie Will consider to what extent tn.
failure of our City government to en-
force the laws against the keepers OF
the nests in which murdcrers and
L thieves are harbored, Is responsible for
the awful crime. 1t should be n lesson
81 to every citizen of this City, and other
communities threatened with the in
" vnsion of an un-American party.
5sl3 a ---------
VA STATE TAXATION.
Taxation Is not regarded as on n
a 4 u , b f