| Show SUATOEFDI rlItTI5LiSmr The Republican majcrlty In the < Con stitutlonal Convention have to date carried out the partisan Intent announced an-nounced by the chairman of their territorial ter-ritorial committee at the opening of the election campaign A partisan convention was desired that a partisan par-tisan constitution might be framed The proceedings thus far in the convention con-vention have been conducted in that spirit The purPose in trampling upn all know Yules of right and reason as to preliminary organizations of legislative legisla-tive bodies was to force upon the convention con-vention the scheme evolv d In Republican Republi-can caucus John Henry Smith was i chosen as part of the scheme to be the I President of the convention although I I his election was in doubt and he had no certificate which the law of Congress makes the only evidence of election That choice was as admitted by ardent Republicans not for his special adaptability adap-tability for the position but as a sop to the Mormon element and to prevent pre-vent the division which might arise 02 to any other Republican candidate That was why it was determined to force him upon the convention in the irregular unparliamentary and illegal way which has prevailed Everybody who understands the matter and does not speak falsely admits the proceedings proceed-ings were wrong in principle The committee on credentials were forced I by the Republican majority to assume functions which could not be properly I exercised except by a committee appointed ap-pointed In a fully organized body But to put the man picked out in the chair he had to be made a member even though he had no lawful evidence of election The spreadcagie oratory abiut the disfranchisement of the people In the Third precinct was so much fustian Thosa people could have had their fights of representation secured in the regular legal and proper way When the convention had been permanently organized the same results as to eatIng eat-ing the members could have been achieved and the scandalous proceedings proceed-ings that prevailed could have been avoided But that would have kept John Henry Smith back until after the permanent organization and that would have spoiled the Republican partisan arrangement The forcing of the issue in the temporary organization organiza-tion then was not for any public good or public interest or public principle prin-ciple but to secure the working of the Republican party machine The organization of the convention with a President In the chair having no credentials entitling him even to a seat in that body and with officers all determined upon on a partisan basis makes the body a partisan organization organiza-tion and now we shall see whether it will frame a partisan constitution If that shall prove to be its work goodbye good-bye to statehood for an indefinite period1 Even Republicans cannot feel proud of the first days proceedings under organized party management No one Jealous of the reputation of the state can read the account of Wednesdays doings without a sense of shame It was more of a farce or a burlesque than a deliberation upon the vital Questions Ques-tions of the hour and was conducted in a slipshod manner which we trust will not be repeated In the partisan character of the organization of this convention Jt must be plain to all onlookers that What has been said about the unscrupulous unscru-pulous character of the Republican party is correct To effect a partisan end resolved upon under pressure of the machine right and wrong cut no figure In the language of Ingalls Get there is the only policy Let us hope that having Obtained what they attempted In such a disreputable dis-reputable manner they will now relegate rele-gate their extreme partisanship and roughriding circus tactics to the rear and that fairness to all and the interests inter-ests of the public will be the prime consideration Then the scheme of the first proceedings will pass into comparative com-parative silence and the pleasure of beholding a splendid constitution will cast all else into the shade |
