Salt Lake Tribune | 1912-01-11 | Page 6 | Bywater's Prejudicial Move

EYWATER'S PREJUDICIAL MOVE. Chief By water of the fire department depart-ment of this city appears, as we judge from reports, to have mistaken the purpose of the city eleclion of November Novem-ber last, a'hd lo be misinterpreting the policy of the new city administration. adminis-tration. . lie has been busy in getting rid' of Gentile members of the department de-partment . and his quarrel with Mr. Fjt.zgerald, r the assistant chief, appears ap-pears to have turned on the point, that Mr. . By water wants Mormon blacksmiths black-smiths to have the shoeing of the horses in the department, whereas Mr. Fii7.gc.ra1d hod made some contracts with Gentiles to do the work. Now there is no merit in any contention con-tention -that - Mr. Bywatcr may make "thai, the people of this city, by their votes' of November last, wished to turn over the control of affairs of th's citv to- the ecclesiastical authorities, or'iunkc the change "a sectarian victors. On the -contrary, the distinct understanding under-standing was that, the commissioner--elected were'lo take hold of tho affairs of the oil' on nonpartisan lines, and without Jreferencc , to 'any religious claims -or assertions. Mr. Bvwatcr. however, by the course which he appears ap-pears to be pursuing, has misread the attitude of the people and the desires of the commissioners. The commissioners, we are sure, would' not. as a proposition of policy." indorse the idea that Gentiles, as such, were lo be weeded out of the fire de partment aiifl that .Mormons, as such, were lo be given the work of that department. de-partment. And yet what. Chief Bywatcr Bywa-tcr lias done will' have precisely that effect upon the public mind; that is. it will convince the public that Mr.! Bywatcr so construes the clclion and the desires of the commissioners. His policy herein is, therefore, a mistaken one, ami. if continued or extended to other departments, will be a reproach lo the commission and a disgust lo Hie community at, large. ,