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Show THE SEARCHLIGHT D Sixteen P¥onths of Maw (Continued from preceding were forgotten in the peculiar Nevada metropolis. gaiety of the- Labor leaders and local unions throughout the State express deep resentment over the page) The actual operation of the re-organization scheme under Maw’s direction has been unwise and unwholesome. There are instances —many of them—when key executives have been obliged to sit around twiddling their thumbs for weeks at a time while His Excellency made up his mind, only to change it later. His personal control of the purse strings of the State, a foolish and unconstitutional grant of power by the Legislature, brought about by the Governor’s own suggestion, has virtually crippled certain State agencies and educational institutions. That financial control—a function of the legislature—has left whole divisions of the State at the inattentive merey of the Chief Magistrate. It has contributed to inefficiency, instability, and demoralization. There are instances when a course charted —or at least approved—by Governor Maw, has been nullified by his subsequent action Backman-Maw tieup. That criticism covers several State appointments of especial interest to labor. Many appointments a slap in Labor’s were made. face. are regarded as Vigorous protests Union leaders assert that Maw’s success in 1940 was due largely to Labor’s strong support. With that background Labor feels it has just cause to complain at the Governor’s ac- tion in placing Backman in a favored, position, particularly so when Gus went out of his way to incite Salt Lake business men gress for repressive to ask Con- labor legislation. Labor feels that it has a better claim to Maw’s political affections than the Chamber cooperators. Instead of being treated on a par with Gus, union leaders point out that they are relegated to hard seats on the mourners’ bench in the Governor’s outer office while Gus marches ostentatiously past them through the open door to cooperate with His Excellency in the inner sanctum. a when he has empowered another official or employee to block or circumvent that which he first approved. Such tactics are provocative of chaos. In the last eight months there has been more uncertainty, distrust and suspicion low cooperators possess the ‘‘Open Sesame’? to that holy of holies. The Capitol is seething pant. announced to a group in the Statehouse that he in the State Capitol than in any similar period in the history of Utah. Clique politics are ram- Pohtically Maw is faced with revolts of former supporters in every locality from Logan to St. George. Leader after leader credits the Governor with some variety of let-down or a double cross. For three or four months the situation has been highly explosive all over the State. : For instance, Maw’s critics in Washington County charge that the Governor had given recognition to party members in that region only by using them as political doormats. A meeting was called at the Governor’s suggestion at which he was to explain away the dif- ficulties. Bets were would not appear planation. even to deliver He didn’t. that the Governor the promised ex- It was asserted in St. George that His Excellency went on through that city, never pausing until he arrived at hectic Las Vegas, where his political sorrows State officials are accorded the same ment as union leaders. Only Gus treat- and his fel- with resentment over the marked favoritism shown to Gus and his employers. One official proposed to ask Gus to act as guide and sponsor for him so that he finally might enter the PRESENCE of His Excellency. Citizens from every part of the State voice similar complaints. The Governor, they say, has devised a crude run-around to rid himself of those whose importance ceased on November 0, 1940. His method is to invite them to call on him at the Statehouse. He all he will be glad to ascertain assures one and their views. But when they come to Salt Lake City to visit the Governor they find the door to his inner office effectively barred. They are asked to leave their message with the secretary. After a few hours of meditation on the mourners? bench the trusting citizens depart for home where they reflect on the ephemeral nature of political promises, and ponder on the makeup of a man who says one thing but does another, or perhaps fails to do anything at all. |