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Show Volitical Vietv Toint. KEARNS SLATE. Mayor Frank Knox, first choice, Fifth precinct; pre-cinct; George T. Odell, second choice, Fifth precinct. pre-cinct. Recorder Frank Matthews, Third precinct; (A L. Simondl, deputy.) Treasurer Frank Swenson, Fourth precinct. Auditor Joseph J. Meyers, Second precinct, or A. H. Nash. Attorney George L. Nye, First precinct. ANTI-KEARNS SLATE. Mayor W. F. James, Fifth precinct. Recorder A. P. Kessler, Third precinct. Treasurer' Joseph McKnight, First precinct. Auditor Harry Jenkins, Second precinct. Attorney W. R. Hutchinson, Fourth precinct. A THIRD SLATE. Mayor W. F. James. 'Recorder' Joseph Christensen, First precinct. Treasurer J. E. Openshaw, Third precinct. Auditor' A. S. Reiser (third term), Second precinct. Attorney W. R. Hutchinson, Fourth precinct. iffi t5 i0 The ahove is about the way the Kearns and anti-Kearns forces are aligned at present. Of course there will be some changes in the po-litcal po-litcal menu between now and the date of the convention, con-vention, but those will chiefly be in the form of an amalgamation of the forces opposed to the machine ma-chine of the senior senator. It appears probable that Knox will be the candidate can-didate of the Kearns torces, notwithstanding his former 3tatement that he would be deaf to the lute-voiced siren of municipal preferment. They never were really enthusiastic about Odell, on account of alliances to which they are opposed, and now that Knox seems to have wavered in his former announced determination not to run, they will concentrate their efforts in an endeavor to secure his nomination and election. Still they will have a fighting force to contend with, for the people who are behind the two non-Kearns slates will make any kind of an alliance to defeat the senior senator's political machinations. The lieutenants who are leading the opposition to Kearns are so confident of bringing about his defeat that even wagers have been made between county officials that the anti-Kearns slate will go through intact. It will be observed that the independent inde-pendent forces are at present unanimous, except as to minor offices, and that they will present a solid front in the fight for the mayoralty and city attorneyship. The present alignment appears to leave Mr. O dell's candidacy between the devil and the deep green, as the""candidacy of Knox would rob him of the very support upon which he has depended to secure the mayoralty victory. If deserted by the Kearns forces, as he assuredly would be with the banker in the field, Mr. Odell could expect ex-pect nothing but a hostile demonstration from the independent element who are opposed to factional fac-tional rule. The agitation among the Democrats in favor of a citizens' ticket has led many of the Independents Independ-ents to the belief that the wisest course for them to pui'sue would be to nominate a man for mayor who could devote ample time to the conduct of the mayoralty office and a proper supervision of the different municipal departments. Their conten- Itention it demands, and that in consequence a of such extensive business interests that they would be unable to give to the office theminute attention at-tention it demands, and that in consequence a man like Mr. James would be far more suitable and satisfactory for the place. For all that the candidacy of Mr. James is bitterly assailed by the Kearns people. Meanwhile the independents who are support-ins support-ins James for mayor are much gratified over the chaotic state of affairs in the Kearns camp. They claim that with so pronounced a Kearns man In the field as Mr. Knox, the senator's champions would be unable to give to the office the minute at-guiling at-guiling electors into the belief that they were supporting him purely on account of his competency and the fact that he was t a non-Mormon. It is even admitted by so pronounced a Kearns man as J. C, Lynch that the Kearns forces may yet be forced to support sup-port Odell, although that is an alternative that appears to be far off and is a contingency which, if they were forced to it, would cause them the deepest chagrin. & & & The state of affairs in the different precincts is very badly muddied just at present, as far as the minor offices go. If Joseph McKnight is elected elect-ed to the treasurership, which just now appears probable, a quietus will be placed on the candidacy candi-dacy of Nye for city attorney, as the latter hails from the same section. Mr. Hutchinson seems to have a long lead for the city attorneyship in the Fourth precinct, and if successful that of course would retire Mr. Frank Swenson of the same precinct, whose candidacy, however, does not appear to be viewed with any great amount of seriousness. An interesting fight will occur in the Third, where Frank Matthews and A. P. Kessler are aspirants for the recordership, and J. E. Openshaw has designs on becoming city treasurer. They will have to fight it out on local grounds, and the man who comes up with the majority of the Third behind him will be a formidable candidate can-didate for any ofL-ial position he desires. A similar sim-ilar condition prevails in the Fifth, where all the aspirants for the mayoralty at present mentioned are domiciled. If Knox becomes an avowed candidate, can-didate, his candidacy will, of course, badly cripple Odell in his only stronghold. S W There is much division twixt the souls of the Democratic leaders just at present, and peace dwelleth not within their tents. They are holding hold-ing many caucuses with a view to coming to a conclusion regarding whether they shall place a Democratic ticket in the field or launch a citizens' ticket. Orlando W. is being continuously Importuned Im-portuned for advice, but his usually refluent brain does not appear to fructify in any solution of the gloomy problem. From present indications, the diplomatic conclaves will result in the Democrats putting a straight ticket in the field, even if they do not harbor the faintest gleam of hope for the success of their lethargic cluster of candidates. The advice of the leaders whose suggestions are most sought in council is that a Democratic ticket be launched, as they fear a complete demoralization demoraliza-tion unless the organization be kept intact. They also figure that unless this be done they will loom up at the important election next year looking like a deserted corps of Falstaff's recruits. |