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Show U, ; OUR LOCAL CANDIDATE. j If the President should conclude to ap- ' ' f point Colonel S. A. Merritt as Governor 'I of Utah, his action would meet with the ' heartiest approval of the local Democracy, simply because they believe that he i would be the right man in the right place a bona fide resident of the Terri- i tory, a staunch Democrat, a lawj-er of j acknowledged ability, and a man who, . f knowing the needs of the hour, would be ! f; found ever ready to perform his whole x 1 duty. It is to be regretted that the President 'if should hesitate to appoint a local candi- date for this office when the choice lies between such a man as Colonel Merritt if and 6ome non-resident who has abso- ; J lutely uo knowledge of the anomalous po- 1 1 J litical and social conditions existing in j I this Territory. True, a few month's ex- i 1 perience in office would, perhaps, obviate j " the objection which properly lies against i j J the appointment of a non-resident, but i ; how much better would it be for us all if ' the President's choice should fall upon one who, by long residence in the Terri- . 1 tory and experience gained from actual j observation of daily happenings in Utah, ;! knows the situation here like a book. As a rule, the Federal officials sent to , ?; Utah have not always been what may be ... termed superior men, and in too many instances they have been given office without reference to their qualifications i ! for the same, but simply as a reward for r, i services rendered in political campaigns I back East. This is all wrong, and was so recognized by the Democratic party when its representatives, in national con- vention assembled, inserted a plank in the party platform declaring that "the 1 selection of Federal officers for the Territories should b3 restricted to ' . : citizens previously- resident therein." In view of all this, how could it be possible for President Cleveland ! to better fill the gubernatorial chair of Utah than by the appointment of Colonel : Merritt, who, in addition to being a bona fide resident of the Territory, possesses all the other needed qualifications, and would undoubtedly discharge the duties of the office as becomes a Democrat and a patriot, and a man of intelligence and tact among a thousand ? President Cleveland lias it in his power ', , to give Utah the best Executive she ever had, and we trust he will do so by nam-N nam-N ing Colonel S. A. Merritt for that position. |