The Salt Lake Herald

THE LIBERAL TICKET

The Liberal ticket gives the Democracy more real encouragement than they have had since preparations were begun for the municipal election. The party of the people have felt that it was working at a disadvantage. It knew that it was opposed openly and secretly by that viciously partisan institution, the Utah commission, which does not scruple to do all in its power to help the Liberals. The registration is done in the interest of the Liberals and with the deliberate purpose of injuring the Democrats. All the election machinery is in the hands of the enemy and is manipulated cleverly in that interest. Then thousands of dollars of the people's money have been expended during the past six weeks for keeping floaters and hobos in town until election day that they might vote the Liberal ticket. The odds against which the Democracy have been compelled to work are discouraging and would be disheartening to less earnest, determined men than are the rank and file of the Democrats.

But the Liberal ticket has helped amazingly and all day yesterday Democrats were jubilant with hope. It is a bosses' ticket from top to bottom, not a man on it owning himself and having the courage to assert his independence. Every man was carefully selected because of his weakness, which made it certain that he would be the subservient tool of his masters, obediently doing their bidding in all things. It is because of this too apparent weakness that the Democrats are rejoicing. They do not think it possible that the taxpayers of this city, the solid men of the community, will intrust the mighty interests involved to the management of the men named by the Liberals to control the affairs of Salt Lake for two years. It cannot be possible that the progressive citizens will do anything which will place at the head of the government a man who, although he has been a resident for a score of years or more, has not advanced a single step in all that time. The Liberal nominee for mayor lives in the same atmosphere with which he surrounded himself a quarter of a century ago; he reads the same literature that he read then; he conjures up the same spooks with which he has been troubling his nights all these years; he wears on his countenance the same sneer which has repelled those who attempted to approach him. He is perhaps the most conspicuous specimen in Salt Lake of a back number, and with him in control the progress of the city would be that of the crab. The next most important official, so far as the bona-fide residents are concerned, is the assessor and collector, and for that place a person has been named who is practically unknown in the community. He is so much a stranger that when somebody told a reporter last week that such a person was a candidate for office an inquiry was set on foot to learn something concerning him. An industrious search developed the fact that at one time in his career he resided in an obscure Colorado town. To the present it has been impossible to learn whether his residence here has extended over a period of weeks, months or years. The Liberal organ vouches for him, but that doesn't count. Two years it vouched in similar terms for its party nominees, growing recklessly lavish in its praises of them for ability, honesty and integrity, and within three months it was denouncing them as 'boodlers.' Certificates of character from such a source carry no weight in this community. Is it likely that the property-owner will vote to confer upon a stranger the power to assess and collect taxes, fixing values at his own sweet will and handling a quarter of a million dollars of the people's money a year? Those without property may vote such a man into important office, but we take it that the substantial citizens of Salt Lake are not so thoughtless and inconsiderate of their interests. And the nominations for councilmen! Well, let us be charitable and say nothing. The names have been published. That is sufficient, although it may be well to remark that Salt Lake is a city of 50,000 inhabitants, among whom are many bright and brainy men, progressive and enterprising. They want a city council in whose ability at least they have some confidence. We repeat that the Liberal ticket gives the Democracy great encouragement. The ticket is the very best campaign document for the Democrats. It tells all that need be told of what may be expected in the event of Liberal success, and tells it in a way to alarm property owners and dampen the spirits of enterprising, progressive citizens who are eager to see this city grow and prosper. The Democracy enter the lists full of hope.