Salt Lake Telegram | 1907-03-01 | Page 12 | And There are Others

AND THERE ARE OTHERS. At the Harvard union last week President Roosevelt in opposition to President Eliot's views, said: "It is to my mind simple nonsense, a mere confession con-fession of weakness, to desire to abolish the game because be-cause tendencies show themselves or practices grow up which prove that the frame ought to be reformed." re-formed." These remarks apply, to other things besides football. In the game of politics sometimes practices grow up which prove that the game ought to be reformed. re-formed. We have had a striking illustration of that in the last two weeks. It may be worth while, in order to gain nine electoral votes, to so involve the political politi-cal game that a reformation ought to be started at i once. We trust President Roosevelt when Congress adjourns, will take this matter in hand and try to determine whether or not abuses may not have grown up which are not conducive to either statesmanship states-manship or good morals. It is a favorite remark of those dignified men and journals that the Western States are rotten, or as Mr. Cleveland very tersely stated on one occasion "They are unwelcome I States," meaning by that, they were corrupt, that the people did not have level heads and that their votes could be, influenced. Assuming for argument's sake that that is true, we beg to suggest to President Roosevelt that when his friends for him make the j trade by which the slave vote of several States can be turned to his advantage, he is coming very nearly to violating that law which makes it criminal when any combine works in restraint of trade. Just think what it would be to the true and industrious men of Utah and south Idaho if, instead of having to vote by order from the corner of Brig-ham Brig-ham and State streets in. this city, they could dispose dis-pose of their votes for a small sum. the aggregate, of which would be a great help to their farms, and would make the desert bloom even more like roses than it has been made to bloom up to date. The judgment of the President is clear, but he ought to study harder to make proper application of it.