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H 2 GOODWIN' S WEEKLY. i " -
B actor for a single board to grasp. Even though
H the control of the finances bo taken from them,
H the separate boards of control should still bo con
H tinued for purely administrative purposes, if for
H nothing else. If the institutions are to remain in
B their present high state of efficiency they must
H have special attention.
H Then, on the other hand, the central board of
H control would be obliged to operate under the su-
H pervision of the board of examiners which con-
H sists of the governor, secretary of state and at-
Bj torney general. For it most certainly cannot be
H the intention to take the ultimate control of
B the state's finances away from these elective offi-
B ccrs and give it to an appointive board. This
B would be bad policy and, besides, the people
B wouldn't permit it.
B And so it would seem that the proposed cen-
B tral board of control, if created, must eventually
B resolve itself into an unnecessary appendage to
B the state government Wo will have one more
B board and more expense, perhaps, when the books
B are finally balanced.
H The Rise In Silver
THE stou ivance in the price of silver, while
m not a ng so much attention as have the
B sensational rises in the baser metals, is a matter
B of utmost importance to the financial world and
H particularly to the men of the west where so many
B great silver producing mines are located. Stocks
B representing these mines have not experienced a
B strong enough movement during the rise in the
B price of the metal, probably because that rise has
B been so gradual, but when the public is fully cog-
B nizant of what will be necessary in the readjust-
fl ment of the monetary situation all over the world
B later on, or in other words, when the war is at
B an end, we believe in common with market stu-
B dents that there will be a boom in silver stocks
B entirely separate from that which has affected
B securities in any other distinctive class.
B The longer the war goes on the greater is the
Bi possibility of the remonteization of silver. There
B has already been a large absorption of silver for
B coinage purposes due to the withdrawal of gold
H from circulation by the Allies, and financiers
M seemi agreed that there is a strong probability of
B it becoming a question with all the powers em-
B broiled abroad of repudiating their international
B obligations if the great nations of the word do
M not remonetize silver or accept it on a fixed basis
B at a much higher value than thei present price of
m the metal. There is no discounting the import-
H anco of the position of silver in the world of finance
H today, and with its strength! assured it will again
M be a most important factor in the prosperity of
m the entire country and particularly the western
H' states. Surely the outlook for metal mining in
H: Utah for 1917 is most propitious.
H A Bad Breach Of Etiquette
H HPHOSE suffragists were sadly out of order the
H other day who interrupted the president while
H addressing the joint session of congress. Their
H; act of unfurling a banner from the galleries with
H a pointed question inscribed thereon, which was
H directed personally to the president, was audaci-
H ous and inexcusable.
H; Wo sincerely trust that our American suffra-
H gists will not adopt the tactics employed by
H their notorious English sisters, Notwithstanding
H the obstacles encountered to date, they have made
Hj remarkable progress and they can ill afford to
H. become militant until they have exhausted every
jj respectable lesource at their command, As yet,
I they have no just excuse for resorting to extreme
measures or obstreperous action, The adoption
of such a policy will have a tendency to cheapen
V eir cause, On the other hand, the exercise of
r moral suasion will accomplish more for the cause
j than the use of militant methods, It is not so
spectacular, of course ,and requires considerable
patience, but the women will find that It will pay
in the end,
The American people are not altogether con
ventional in their ideas and have slight regard
for the fuss and feathers sometimes attempted by
public officials, Nevertheless, they still have a
wholesome respect for certain time-honored tradi
tions of their national government. They still be
lieve in the simple customs that have been ob
served since the birth of the nation. They be
lieve also, that the affairs of the country should
at all times be conducted in the order of a digni
fied proceeding. .
In the whole category of governmental func
tions, there is no more solemn'-transaction than a
joint session of the two houses of congress, as
sembled to receive the annual (message of the
president. And when the executive appears in
persons and formally addresses the national leg
islature, the occasion assumes momentous pro
portions in the eyes of old-fashioned Americans.
This to them is the supreme manifestation of
their national sovereignty, as expressed by their
most respected representatives, and by its very
nature becomes the most stately of all public func
tions. It would appear, therefor, that the demonstra
tion in point of time and place was decidedly ill
chosen. We can, very readily appreciate their pre
judice against the president. Also, it is easy to
imagine just how his plea for the granting of
citizenship to the natives of a far off island must
have stirred the emotions of that little band of
suffragists sitting in the gallery. It was a tempt
ing situation, and had the demonstration been con
fined to a spontaneous outburst of disapproval, it
could have been readily pardoned. '
But the demonstration was deliberately
planned and executed. Therein lies the damage.
Insiduous interruption sometimes termed heck
lingis accepted as part of the game and consid
ered fair play in political gatherings, ibut it is
altogether out of order in the halls of congress.
It is to be regretted that the suffragists permitted
their prejudices to escape so far beyond bonds as
to over-ride the properties of the solemn occasion.
The president did exactly the right thing in alto
gether ignoring the incident.
Has The Pie Lost Its Flavor
r UiR governor-elect appears to be a pretty hard
headed individual. At this juncture he' seems
bent updn keeping his promise with the people
regardless of partisan consequences. Hence it
follows that all is not as harmonious as it might
be in the Democratic camp.
The new governor admits to having some no
tions of his own respecting the organization
of his administration, and is dead set upon put
ting them into execution. For instance, in the
making of appointments, he proposes to base his
selections primarily upon the grounds of compe
tency, and the matter of party loyalty and serv
ice will receive secondary consideration. This ot
course will reverse the rule of patronage and it
is small wonder that the (Democrats are looking
troubled.
But these are not to be the only requisites for
office. The would-be appointee must furnish
proof that ho is by nature an industrious indivi
dual, and must further agree that he will work
a full eight hour shift, six days a week, and
that ho will devote his entire time and attention
to the duties of the office he holds. This of Itself
is not an altogether pleasing prospect. In addi
tion, there remains the possibility that when the
new administration gets under way a material
reduction in salaries will bo made all along the
line. This is simply in line with the well defined
program of economy submitted to the people be
fore the election, and there is every reason to be
lieve that iMr. Bamberger will attempt to keep
his word.
So much for the prospects at present. But al
lowing a fair margin for good intentions, we feel
safe in assuring the Democrats that the plum tree
will eventually size up to all reasonable expecta
tions. It always does. The back trail of politics
is strewn with the perennial promises of efficiency
and economy in the administration of public af
fairs. It is a matter of record that the people
forget these pledges even before the politicians
themselves do. The fault lies with, the system,
and it will never be remedied until elections are
simplified and public officials are afforded the
assurance that they are no longer at the mercy of
a whimsical populace.
The new governor has demonstrated his capa
bilities in the field of business. We predict, how
ever, that there are several surprises in store
for him when he undertakes to apply certain es
tablished business pinciples to public affairs. That
is, if he persists in exacting the petty economies
which he now promises. The people are peculiar
in this sense; they place small premium upon the
dollars saved in the operation of their governmen
tal affairs. The pinch-penny in public office usu
ally serves the shortest term. The average citi
zen as a rule is more liberal with his government
than he is with himself. He favors substantial sal
aries and expects the public business to be con
ducted on a high plane and in a dignified manner.
The cost is a matter of secondary importance.
The proposition requiring all appointees to give
their full time and attention to their duties is
reasonable, but if the positions are to be made at
tractive to men of big calibre, the salaries must be
made commensurate with the service expected.
A glance at the present state payroll will tell its
own story. We suspect that the governor-elect
will ultimately come to realize this, and that when
he does, the tendency of the payroll will ibe to go
up instead of down. When the time comes that
really big men fill the big state positions, and
are paid big salaries for their services, then the
real era of economy will be inaugurated.
The Incomparable Bryan
rTHE Commoner still continues to keep himself
- in the spotlight. Notwithstanding his twenty
years of constant campaigning and chautaqua
work, he still appears to be as fresh and full of
flavor as when on that memorable occasion in
189G he stormed a hostile convention and first
found favor with millions of his fellow countrymen.
Ho is as fanciful and daring as ever and therein
lies the irresistable charm 'of the man. He still
believes in himself. He is as cocksure of his
position today, whatever the issue may be, as he
was a score of years ago when he defined his
first paramount issue, and he doesn't care a conti
nental who chooses to differ with him.
He may rightfully lay claim to several marks
of distinction, for he is truly a remarkable man.
His chief distinction however, aside from run
ning for the presidency, has been the origination
of paramount Issues. In 1896 his paramount issue
was ibimetalism, in 1900 it was imperialism, in 1904
ho temporarily surrendered the colors to Tam
many, in 1908 it was government ownership of
railroads and federal control of corporations, in
1912 it was a revision of the tariff to effect a re
duction in the high cost of living, in 1913 it was
public patronage for deserving Democrats, and
since 1914 it has been peace at any price.
Now he assures us that in 1920 the paramount
issue will be nation-wide prohibition. As an evi
dence of his sincerity Mr. Bryan has detailed him.
self to lead the fight. In announcing his position
on this issue he made the startling admission that
he had abandoned all liope of ever arriving at a
satisfactory solution of the tariff question, and
that he proposed henceforth to devote his energies
