The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-10-05
BEATEN FOR OPPOSING GRAFT.


held by the church Republican party
was to serve notice on all Office seekers
that if they desire anything from the
church Republican party. they must not
oppose graft.
There were three county officials who
had made themselves conspicuous In
opposing graft and insisting that the
law should be obcycd and thievery
stopped. These were County Auditor
Heginbotham, County Treasurer Jack
Groesbeck, and County Attorney Job
Lyon.
Mr., Heginbotham early incurred The
wrath of the Mackay gang by opposing
the installing of telephones for private
use OF county officials at the public cost.
For this he was hated and has ever
since felt thc cumitr Of the grating
commissioners. The pretense that it
third term comes with poor grace from
those fresh from nominating Represeu-
tatjvc Howell, not for the third. but
for the fifth consecutive term.
County Treasurer Grocsbeck incurred
the enmity of the grafters when he de-
mandcd to know how be was going to
square his books when the commits
sioners had paid thc Smoot Mouth
more than double the amount allowed
b. Law for publishing the delinquent
tax list, Mr.. GroeSbeck was authorized
10 collect only twenty five cents per de
scripton. but the grating commits.
sioners paid the Smoot organ more than
double this amount The excess pay
meut had to be met by the taxpayers
who had paid their taxes voluntarily
aud in full, and who rightfully had
nothing TO do with delinquency, and
bad no business 60 be charged any
thing on delinquent account Mr..
Groesbeck sought TO know what the
commissioners would have him do TO
square his books III this dilemma and
meet the law. They ignored him en-,
tirely-gave no answer TO his very
proper question Then he con
suited the county attorney, Mr..
Lyon, who advised him that his
only remedy under tho law was
to bring a suit that would require those
responsible for this unlawful squander'
ing and waste of the public money TO
make good their unlaw wfuI expenditures.
Mr. Groesbeck brought the suit accord
ingly, and now he is slaughtered for it
That is, nc is punished simply because
he wished TO conduct his Office accord
ing TO law, prevent stealing of the pub
lie money. and protect the taxpayers.
Mr. Lyon, for advising against the
tblevcry indicated and for doing his
duty IN InStitutIng suit to recover the
taxpayers money from those who had
stolen it. incurred also tho enmity Of
the grafting ring, and although the
honest public was unquestlonably in
favor of Mr.. Lyon, the graftcrs sue
cecdcd in winning votes away from
him. preiudlcing his case through
trickcry, falsehood, and cnmity, and
beating him for denomination.
II is a clear case that the erafters
were in control of the convention;
that they punished those who, in de-
ituer VI lno low oHo vi lhc puDllt
money, opposed their CRAFTS.
The triumph of graft over law and
honesty is therefore complete. Should
the grafters' ticket be elected, its
triumph would be distinct victory
for graft, lawessDess, and plunder; so
that, the doors being thrown wide open
for loot. there would he no restraint
upon the plunderers and no limit 10
the extent to which they would go in
stealing the public money.
An auditor is punished because he
would not consent to paving private
bills out of the public purse. a county
treasurer is humbled because be wanted
10 find some way to square his
books according to law when the pub
lie money had been stolen TO fatten
Smoot organ. a county attorney is de
feated because be wished 10 enforce
the law and honesty in dealing with
public accounts
The inevitable conclusion. therefore.
is that the officers nominated have re-
ceived their warning. aud will not fol.
low IN the footsteps of their prede-
cessors, but will allow graft to 60 on
unrestrained. and Will make no effort to
either enforce law or prevent loot of
the public money