The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-05-22
trust law and sentenced to pay fine
of $4,000 and serve year in Jail.
HE is ALPHABETICALLY RIGHT.

| We cannot refrain from the expires
sion of our commcndation upon tho
position assumed by Commissioner
Lawrence Of this city in his contro
versy with the Socialists. Mr.. Law
renee has been an active member
of the Socialist party for good many
years, but recently he has opposed the
raise demanded IN the pay of the fire
men of this city, on the ground that
the city's funds do not admit of the
expenditure required for the raise. But
the raise had been approved by the
Federation Of Labor in this city, and
| the fact that Commissioner Lawrence
did not yield on this point was made
the occasion for his expulsion from the
Socialist party.
Mr.. Lawrence was notified to 3p-
pear on Tuesday evening before a
meeting of the Socialist party, TO e7-
plain bis reasons Tor opposing the raise
TO the fremep. He gave his reasons
frankly, as stated, and further ex-
planned his general position, saying
that he believed his duty as Commits
sioner is to guard the interests OF the
general public, and that those inter
ests should not be sacrificed at any
time FOR the benefit of a few. This,
he stated, was his understanding of the
true principles of Socialism. But this
does not seem TO have been the opinion
of the meeting. and Mr.. Lawrence, by
vote, was expelled from the party
In thus acting against Mr.. Lawrence
tho Socialist party puts itself on
record distinctly TO the opposite of
the principles stated by Mr.. Lawrence
in his defense He did not vote for
the increase in the firemen IS pay be-
cause the funds of the city did ont ad-
NIT Of the increase The Socialists,
therefore, are in favor of voting such
increase whether the funds OF the city
admit of it OF not.
Mr.. Lawrence believes it to be his
duty as Commissioner to guard The
interests Of the general public, and
that those interests should not he
sacrificed at any time for the benefit
Of few. The Socialists, in ousting
him from their party because of these
opinions, therefore, put themselves dis
tinctly in the position of opposing the
statement that he made. That is, the
Socialist party does not believe that it
is Commissioner Lawrence duty to
guard the interests Of the general pub
lie, which it appears is contrary to the
Socialist policy; and when he states
further that the general interests
should not be sacrificed at any time for
he benefit Of a few, the Socialists
AXE the reverse position; that the
public interests should be sacrificed
'or the benefit of few.
In all this it is abuudantly evident |
hat Commissioner Lawrence, as a
public official, has the right OF the |
argument. He has done his duty |
according to his oath Of of
ice, as he understands that duty. He |
cfuses to let the Socialist party or any |
organization or part of the COM |
nunity dictate to him as to what he |
hall do with respect to any given
proposition coming before him for Off
ial action. Mr.. Lawrence has always |
TODD very high in this community, and
We are certain that the stand he takes
n this matter Will advance him yet
higher in the public estimation.
Our commendation Of Mr.. Lawrence
n this matter is all the more TO be con.
idered, because we differ from him in
he particular matter in controversy.
We believe that the fremen should
ave the increase Of pay, and also
hat money can be provided by the
ity to meet the increase. Still, when
question of integrity and devotion to
ublic interests on the part of a public
flicial is concerned, we admire the
ian who viii stand firmly by his con-
lotions, giving plain and straightfor
Yard reasons therefor: and when he
AXES the broad view that the public
interests must be the first considera,
ion, there is no possible doubt as to
be commendatiou therefor that such
high-minded official should receive,