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Show LHE SEARCHLIGHT Governor’s Leadership Perils Future of Democratic Party In 1940 contest Herbert B. for Governor Maw by ran about 10,000 ‘last ditch fight to elect him. But at the beginning about of 1943 27 thousand votes. His it has votes behind crusading become obvious Senator supporters that Abe Murdock. worked Herbert B. day Maw He and won the night cannot in win a again. Today he is perhaps the most thoroughly discredited political figure in Utah. His abandonment of ‘his supporters of 1940, and _ his repudiation of party principles proc!aimed in that campaign—his astounding incapacity for wise political leadership—have earned him the scorn that overtakes faithless politicians, and devoted followers of Even the a menace the have Democratic him the in the pitiless repudiation of a substantial percentage of his 1940. blindest to party breught Maw success party partisans in 1944. With cannot afford Democratic a rising party look upon tide of Republicanism to accept and him as becoming a distinct stronger defend the bankrupt leadership liability— and stronger of Herbert B. Maw. Unless Maw is thrown overboard—repudiated utterly—county offices heretofore filled by Democrats will go to Republicans in 1944. What about Senator Thomas? Congressmen Robinson and Granger? Chief Justice Wolfe? Can they pull through in 1944 if handicapped by two more years of Governor Maw’s leadership or rather lack of leadership? The odds will be strongly against them. This much elections state Editor’s is certain. in 1944. Note: This Democratic discussion of politics the political leadership of Herbert B. Maw was written parts. The first part appeared in the issue cember 25, 1942, Vol. III, No. in in two of De- 17. —_— THE The Searchlight the story predatory neld in INVISIBLE the and heretofore of the conference corporations with Governor’s ‘tilities, mines. panks, GOVERNMENT other in the business recorded of executives of His Kixcelleney, office smelters, has March, sugar industry, corporations represented. Virtually all business men ent were ‘“big business’? Republicans. By His to way of review, Eixeelleney pledged the assembled it might be 1941. said were and received that sim- ilar pledges in return. Provision was made for a special representative of the business inrerests—Lineoln G. Kelly—to act as ‘‘advi«: to the Governor on various phases of public business. Gus P. Backman became general eo-between to assist. the Governor in hewing to the line. The gentlemen created what is next known 90 days as an will commonly determine the outcome ‘‘ Invisible Government’’, in Searchlight of May of the (Story 15, 1942.) Thereafter His Excellency’s starry-eyed shifted from the woes of the common herd gaze to a personal quest for a spot for himself among the bigwigs. Common Democrats were found to be too common. The leader of the Democratic Party turned his back on the party. egan 1940 to work became overtime. The mourners’ bench The smear a closed incident. Republican opponents election they had lost pres- his full ‘*cooperation’’ big shots, the of Herbert 1940 at the campaign finally of B. Maw’s won the polls. GUS P. BACKMAN The elevation of Gus P. Backman sition of gubernatorial confidant and to the pofavorite came as a severe shock to the Labor-Liberal Democrats. Grievances of Labor against Backman were innumerable and of long standing, They were climaxed by an attempt by Mr. Backman to propagandize local business men into making appeals to Congress to enact anti-labor legislation. Nevertheless, as the Kixeellency and Gus (Continued months became on following so went by, intimate page) His that |
