Show A PRESUMPTIVE REGISTRAR Mr VanCotts Conditions Proposed to Delegate Caine To the Editors of THE HERALD The following communication was prepared for the Democrat and forwarded for-warded this morning but alas after swallowing Register Van Cotts letter on Saturday that paper was seized with a sudden attack of iadigestion and expired ex-pired this morning So ends it If not trespassing to much upon your space its publication in THE HERALD will be appreciated JOHN T CAuSE Editors Demc In ccnman ug with Mr W Van Cott regl iraiion ofj r of this county on a matter 01 simple official courtesy I did not imaeinc I was to be involved in a news paoer correspondence but It seems that officer has deemed it personally or politically politic-ally advantageous to publish his letters tome to-me which from their tone were manifestly written for that purpose and not for any benefit or information they might give tome to-me or to the public My letters also have been publshed without any notice being given to me by the gentleman of his intention inten-tion so to do He is certainly welcome to any benefit he miy derive from this as well aa from the astounding head lines with which the Democrat has seen fit to usher in this correspondence Mr Van COlt as County Registrar was ased to give notice that the people of this county would at the ensuing election be given an opportunity to vote on the question ques-tion of the Ratification or rejetlon 01 the Constitution for the proposed State of Utah This was all Mr Van Cott as registration officer of-ficer could do It was therefore all he was asked to do But while expressing his desire de-sire to assist in the matter he uadertook to impose conditions which he had absolutely no right to impose and which the most limited understanding would hive shown 1 had no light whatever agree to I fail to see by what authority the registrar of this county assumes to Insist that certain cer-tain hallos which he prescribes shall be supplied to the judges of election elec-tion I laU to see also how Mr Van Cott as a public officer knows presumptvcly or otherwise how any precinct will vote on the State Constitution Constitu-tion proposition As a public officer Mr Van Cott was simply requested to do a certiin thing strictly in the line of his official duties which he could do or not as he pleased but singularly enough he assumes to dictate that other things regarding which as an officer he has absolutely no concern shall be done befoe he will consent This Is presumptively bad taste It is undeniably undeni-ably presumptions In other words Mr Van Cott as a public servant has taken upon himself a deal more than is becoming He exhibits a folly that is peculiar to his class he cannot4hough he profess never so much unmix himself from his party affiliations It would have been just as consistent in Mr Van Cott to demand that I should furnish carriages to convey to the polls the blind lame and halt among those he assumes as-sumes will presumptively vote against the Constitution that all may have an opportunity to express themselves as to make the demand has ie that I furnish billots to the judges election I trns he will see the Twiinr I am as powerless to prevent lawful voters casting their ballots agains the Constitution Constitu-tion as Mr VanCotv is to kep them from refusal expressing to post themselves the notices favorably to the to contrary it his notwithstanding Without desiring to be offensive or make invidious compar sons Mr VanCotts lengthy communcations and wordy reasonIng reason-Ing upon this simple proposition remind me of Basanios description of Gratlano in Shakespeares Merchant of Venice I quote iratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing more than any mau lu ull Venice his reasons are as two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff you shall seek them all day ere YOu find them and when you have them they are not worth the search Realizing that to communicate with Mr Van Cott is equivalent to having my letter published in the Democrat I deem it expedient ex-pedient to save him the trouble and forward it to yon direct Respectfully JO ax T CAINE Salt Lake City July 18 1SS7 |