The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-07-26
ITS HOSTILE STANDPOINT.

The thoughtful people OF this city
viii appreciate at its proper worth the
Smoot organ : rather reluctant and be
lated championship of the late Amer
can administration. That the Ameri-
can city government wasn't so bad as
its critics declared, was demonstrated
by the report of the special auditors,
what the Deseret News considers the
best municipal administration in a
quarter OF e century.
The American party had work TO
do it performed splendid service for
the city, and time will bring its vim
dication against those who accuse. not
only from the Smoot organ. but from
all its repentant foes.
However, The Tribune'a friendship
for the last city administration does
not in the least blind il to what is
commendable in the present admins.
tration. That the men composing IL
are capable. conscientious. aud honest,
with the welfare of the city at heart,
that they are free from the faintest
suspicion of graft or self-interest, is
beyond the dispute of any fair minded
man or newspaper. But to say that
they are liable 10 make mistakes or
pursue unwisc policies is only to charge
them with being human.
The Tribune is not satisfied because
the city tax levy has not been re.
duced. But there is no excuse for con
demning. as the Smoot organ does, the
City Commissioners for taking exactly
the stand taken by the County Com.
misSioners in reference TO the levy,
ascribing TO nonpsrtisanship a failure
that partisanship made on the same
day, Such unfairness amounts to rank
dishonesty.
Even If every mean thing said about
the present citv government were true,
it is still far ahead of what the public
might expect from set of politicians
dominated by the bigoted bunch that
controls the county and state ma
chimes. And no one doubts for a mo-
ment but the Smoot organ would be
fawning all over the present city ad,
ministration with sickeniug adulstion
IL the Commissioners would have al
lowed the Smoot machine to name the
Chief OF Police and other heads OF
departments and would favor its ia.
vorite contractors in the letting OF
awards for public improvements. But
failing these, il is utterly, dishonesty
hostile
Such selfish perversity will wreck
the Republican party in spite Of all
the backing it counts on. aud will
wreck the county and city if IT is not
held in check.
As an Illustration Of the unreason-
ing animosity Of the Smoot sheet to-
wards the present administration. il
may be observed that "A table of bids,
comparing those of last year with those
received this year, compiled in the
city engineers office, was printed in
full by The Tribune, although appa-
rently uufavorable to the last admin.
istration, while the Smoot organ re.
fused to print it, in line with its well
Nuo"H Iull'N VI suppi CNSiuS lHs lIuln
when it reflects credit upon the City
Commission.
It all dates from those days of dis
appointed hopes when L. $. Marshal
Anderson circulated the statement in
the late municipal campaign that il
would be worse To elect the nonpar-
tisan citizen : ticket than the Ameri-
can ticket. and lost nothing Of its
viruleuce when B. f. Grant was ap-
pointed Chief OF Police over the com
bincd tears and threats OF the entire
bunch