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Show THE ARGUS. there is nothing new under the sun. they are : Here Of 3 the 16,000 shares of stock in this trust held by stockholders 14,000 are owned and held by members of the Cannon family, 12,000 by men closely associated with George Q. Cannon in business and church Tinatters, 16,000 by New York parties represented by Mr. Cannon, and the remainder has been judiciously distributed with an eye single to the greatest good for the greatest men interested. The influence of such a gigantic combination is sure to be felt in political circles as it will be felt in business circles. The scope of its aims and objects is comprehensive enough to satisfy any seeker after wealth that it is a good investment. Its general business is to utilize streams of water for driving power, production of electricity and furnishing of power, light and heat, to store water for irrigation, to buy and sell real and personal property. It will operate on a of a large scale and the hearty favorable city administration will greatly facilitate the accomplishment of its purposes. Besides those who are included in the foregoing list for 1897 may be noted the following: John T. Caine, S. H. Hill, James T. Little, Mrs. Rebecca Little, Francis Armstrong, R. C. Chambers and A.'. WMcCune. Of course there are many good men backing the movement, but some of them have axes to grind. The Argus does not mean to attach unworthy motives to any of these distinguished gentlemen. They are in favor of good government ; they are honest in demanding the very best administration of public affairs possible ; they are not seeking office for themselves, nor, as a rule, are they trying to build up or control any political machino. But after all, away down deep in his heart, each cherishes a private grievance which may be traced possibly to the tax roll, to some official bond or something of the kind ; or possibly he frets under the galling restraint of that constitutional provision which prevents the officers of private corporations from serving as officers of municipal corporations. When an ambitious man is prevented by law from holding public office because of his connection with corporate interests and institutions he naturally desires to get as near it as possible in order that his rapid accumulation of wealth may not be retarded any more than he can help. This is human nature, and it crops out ia bank officials, street car magnates and representatives of trusts, just as it does in other people. on gatherers who evidently desire to get to the pockets of the people officially as well as unofficially? The Argus is not prepared to defend the acts of the present city administration, but it has been about as business like and as economical as the regime of 1894 proved to be. It is a long time until the election but the committee of fifty is actively at work. of ten in each precinct are industriously organizing for the conflict. The Tribune and News are backing it. The president, and owners of the Herald are in the swim and the assurance has been given that it will be in line within three weeks. Tiie Argus is not altogether opposed to the movement, as there is ample excuse for its existence and some reasons; for supporting it. Future developments will demonstrate which is the better course to pursue. non-partisa- n non-partisa- Sub-committe- vice-preside- es nt The trial of Moses Thatcher on sues involving his fellowship in the In its zealous support of the TriaK Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-daSarKf" party the Tribune resorts to abuse of those Saints, has been in a progress for a week. The decision was rendered yesterday. It sustains the who believe in the division on party lines. It refers to those who helped organize the political charges, as the public generally anticipated, but imposes certain conditions on Mr. Thatcher parties of Utah and still have faith in their reby compliance with which he may retain spective principles and destinies, as and It seeks to create the his membership in the church. This trial has impression that nobody pays any taxes to speak been the culmination of a series of differences beof except the very wealthy, men identified with tween Mr. Thatcher and the leading officers of the citizens movement. It may be true that the the church, which have arisen and multiplied since the division on party lines in Utah. He capitalists of the land pay more than their promay have had personal troubles with individual portion of taxes, but it is not a generally acmembers of leading quorums long before, but his knowledged fact. On the contrary, the ability and disposition of monied men to shiik the oblialleged rebellion against the authorities has been in political matters only. The specific charges gations they are under to the government, local considered by the high council in summing up or national, to avoid the payment of their honest dues in return for the protection guaranteed by the case for the general charge of apostacy was law, has fomented as much dissatisfaction among seemingly abandoned for want of support were the middle classes as has any other cause. The the sentiments expressed by the gentleman frequently since his deposal concerning the manipoor citizen, the man or woman in moderate cirfesto and his opposition thereto. Mr. Thatcher cumstances is compelled to list every bit of property in the family. These people cannot afford to has always maintained that the political manifesto of April, 1896, virtually amounted to an invest in government bonds or store money in abandonment of the position taken by the church vaults, or establish temporary agencies outside of leaders in their various declarations of the absoThe reputed originator of the movement is the state for the purpose of misleading the lute political freedom of the Mormon people. The W. W. Riter, one of the famed junta committee assessor. Every article is listed and every cent of 1896 and a close friend and adherent of Presi- -' they owe the government is collected. They are authorities have individually represented in the entitled to as much consideration at least as is pulpit and in private conversation that the manident George Q. Cannon of the Electric Trust. festo includes everybody in the church, but the given men who derive more benefits from society Mr. Riter began his political career as a Demoauthorities as a body have now declared that it and is and pay less in proportion for its maintainance. crat, became a Republican, a gold-buonly requires certain leading salaried officials o? now an advocate of the abandonment of party The Tribune says that the poor men are with the church to obtain permission to engage in podivision in Utah. He is a capitalist, a cool, carelitical pastime, and that the Mormon masses are movement because they care ful, calculating financier who certainly sees a the not affected by its provisions. The people of the personal advantage in whatever he advocates. less for political victory than they do for their church are at a loss to see why each apostle, When the personnel of the prime But the real founder of the party is roof trees. the head of the Electric Trust, which will movers in this poor mans party is considered one bishop, stake president, or head of a quorum was allowed for more than a year to go about placing lose nothing by having its friends in control of is tempted to enquire how many of them hold s of this city. Here upon that manifesto his own interpretation rethe city. This trust is destined to become a mortgages on the gardless of the light in which others of equal or power in local politics, far more potent in its they are with their estimated fortunes : 000 superior rank regarded it. This has led to conGeorge Q. Cannon. $3, field than is the sugar trust in its larger field of V. S. McCornick 2.000,000 siderable confusion. operation. It comprises the Pioneer Electric O. J. Salisbury.... 1,000,000 company, the Salt Lake and Ogden Gas and JolinE. Dooly y)00, 000 A. The trial began in the little old Eighteenth W. McCune ; 1,000,000 Electric Electric Light company, the Citizens R. C. Chambers 2,000,000 ward school-housFriday, August 6th. The. ; Light company, the Big Cottonwood Power comL.S. Hills 500,000 Tribune announced it as a matter of news Satur200,000 pany, the Little Cottonwood Power company and W. W. Riter ;. 50,000 day morning, giving the names of the members; other corporations. It is a mammoth trust and P. L. Williams of the high council as published in the church, will make its promoters rich at the expense of the directory. The Herald evidently knew nothing; The Tribune says further that the poor man people. The officials of the combination are: isnt fool enough to believe that a lot of fellows of the matter until it read the Tribunes account, George Q. Cannon, president ; John R. Winder, and so it came out Sunday morning with a statewho live off his sweat are his best advisers. The T. G. Webber, second first ment of its own which, while twenty-fou- r hours Tribune evidently intends that for the city ; R. S. Campbell, secretary and L. S. late, it claimed contained a much better and more officials. It would give out the impression that Hills, treasurer. R. S. Campbell, the secretary, accurate list of the personnel of the high council ticket would is also general manager, having been chosen in officials elected on the actually sitting at the trial. The Herald also place of Frank J. Cannon, resigned. The other not draw salaries would not live off the sweat of claimed that no apostles were taking any part But who extracts more, after all, the directors of the trust are Joseph F. Smith, Frank whatever in the trial, and day after day it re af- from the sweat of the poor man city officials who J.: Cannon, C. K. Bannister, W. J. Curtis and draw the salaries fixed by law or the interest CONTXSUXD ON PAOS 5. WS. McCornick. ch" so-calle- Non-partisa- d non-partisa- y n n. place-hunte- rs tax-eater- . f g non-partisa- nou-partisa- n n roof-tree- COO, e . n . vice-presiden- t; vice-preside- nt non-partisa- tax-paye- r. n |