The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1919-02-18
/, DEMOCRATS AND PLEDGES


do not accept the principle involved, yet
feel themselves obligated because plank
pledging something of this kind was part
of the Democratic party platform last
fall. Anyone who is old enough to find
his way about without guide knows
how easy it is for an organized group of
shrewd men to cajole the average dele
gate to convention and so impose the
will of minority upon an actual ma
jority. The monopolistic state insurance
plank was sprung on the Democratic
state convention, we are told, as COM
plete surprise. 1t was prepared and in
troduced at the request of group of
labor leaders and was supported, in the
committee and the convention, by State
Senator Olson, whose firm, we under
stand, is attorney for most of the unions.
No one in the convention, except the in
terested persons knew what was coming,
and Mr.. Will G. Farrell, delegate who
attempted to oppose the adoption of the
resolution, was not even given respect
full hearing. Before the lapse of the time
allowed him under convention rules, he
was interrupted by cries of times up"
Throw him out" and similar pleasant
ries, undoubtedly emanating from the
group of high minded patriots who are
seeking the adoption Of the Socialistic
doctrine proposed. 1t is important to re-
member always that state insurance con-
fers no added benefit on the worker. that
is not otherwise given.
The men in favor of the plank were
well organized and had little difficulty
in securing its adoption, since probably
80 per cent of the people in the conven-
ton did not realize its meaning. So
much for the history Of how monopoly
became tenet of democracy in Utah. We
have related the incident as told by
man present at the convention. We are
told that similar effort was made by
the same people to secure like plank in
the Republican convention, but that this
effort failed.
Senator Olson is now insisting that his
fellow Democratic members of the legis-
lature are obligated to this experiment
in Socialism. If SO, why not go on with
the complete program? If liability insur-
ance is to be handled by the state, why
not life insurance? Fire insurance?
Health and every other form of insur-
ance? From these it will be only short
step in the taking over by the state of the
operation of banks, of elevators, in short
the entire program of the Nonpartisan
league the Socialistic organization that
had had the effect, wherever it has at
tanned power, of lessening the value of
every form of property.
We do not believe that majority of
the members of the Utah state legisla-
ture are Socialists or have any sympa-
thy with Socialistic doctrine To say
that any member, Republican or Demo-
crat, is bound by a platform pledge,
and particularly one in which the evil
dence of political sleight of hand in its
adoption was so obvious, is foolish Right
minded peple naturally always desire to
keep faith and to make good their pledg-
ed word, but certainly no Democrat in
the Utah legislator should have any hes
itancy in breaking this particular con-
vention promise. For it was not fairly
obtained and we do not doubt it would,
on its merits, be opposed by so per cent
OF the people of the state. If the Demo
cratic members of the legislature are
anxious to redeem their pledged word,
they might bring about a redistricting
OF the state, which is not only required
by the constitution, but has been pledged
by themselves, as we remember. Demo-
cratic conventions for many years have
pledged their party to nonpartisan jul
dietary. The Democratic legislature of
two years ago ignored this pledge, al !