, 1890-02-11
M0RMOKS DEFEATED.
General Rejoicing in Salt Lake
Over Liberal Victory.
Claims of Fraud and Threat
ened Contest.
Judge Goodwin's Editorial on
the Subject.
The Salt Lake Election.

snow fell last night making the streets in
a very disagreeable condition to-day,
though the sun is now shining brightly.
Business in many portions of the city is
entirely suspended. Up to 1920 a very
heavy vote had been polled. especially by
the Mormons, Returns up to this hour
from sixteen precincts in four wards give
the total vote 2.llI: divided as follows:
Gentiles 965, Mormons LAG. In the
Fifth and Fourth precincts 1t was estimated
that so per cent. of the registration had
voted by 10 o'clock AS We; only W ar
rests have been made for au attempt at il
legal voting. one Mormon and one gen
tile. Everything is quiet and no serious
trouble is anticipated.
At IL O'Clock returns received at Lib
eral headquarters from twenty two wards
give the total vote 4 ,663; g~entiles 1885,
Mormons 2,27S, a Liberal increase since
10 O'Clock Of 3IT. About half the vote
has been polled and the gentiles now
claim they will carry the city by | ,400.
1t is estimated the Mormons have polled
81 per cent of their strength and the gem
tiles so per cent OF Cheirs.
The municipal ~ele,tion in this city, the
result OF which IS attracting universal at
tention throughout the entire country,
passed off quietly to-day, contrary to the
general expectation. The city has been
crowded for days with special police, de.
tectIves and deputy United States mar
shals for the purpose of preventing illegal
voting, which each party claimed the
other would resort to for the purpose of
carrying the day. 1t was anticipated
that an attempt to challenge and arrest
some voters would create trouble which
would result in a riot and bloodshed.
This, however, was not realized, and
though the excitement was so intense that
half the business houses were closed,
bands Daraded the streets and thorough
fares were iammed with excited citizens,
who realized hat upon the result of to-
days battle depended the future of the
Mormon church as a political organiza
ton.
The voting passed off as quietly as in
some hamlet for a county Justice. Only
six arrests were made for attempting to
vote illegally and three we're made with
out any demonstrations from either side.
Snow began falling early this morning
and continued until noon when the sun
caDie out, melting the snow and turning
the streets into rivers OF slush. This did
not deter voters. many of whom waded
through mud to the polling places, while
hundreds Of carriages ran between the
precincts and headquarters in every part
of the city, conveying voters to and from
them. By noon 5000 votes had been
cast. which by the poll books showed that
about rs per cent of the peoples and
Mormons' registered vote had been cast,
and about so per cent of the Liberals
gentle
At this hour estimated returns at the
latter's headquarters gave them a ma
jority of 207 votes, though up to IL
O'Clock the Mormons had a majority
ranging from 200 to 300. At 5 O'Clock
estimated returns from every ward in the
city gave the total votes at G, 1928. divided,
GentIle-, 3,443; Mormons, 1856. At 6
O'Clock tonight Chairman Powell claims
the gentle majority will reach 1,400.
This. however, is denied by Chairman
Richards says it is impossible to say
which side will be victorious till the COM
plete returns are in late tonight. The
Mormons claim that fiim-flamming and
fraud has been the order of the day with
the g~entiles, and If they are victorious it
will have been by these methods, and ia
this event the Mormons will contest the
election to the supreme court of the
United States
The polls closed at 6 o'clock and the
Liberal leaders posted a bulletin in the
windows of their headquarters, claiming
a majority of 200. The news spread
over the city and the gentlles took pos
session of the city, flags we're run up and
every gentle building in the city was
decorated with flags and lanterns, fire.
works were sent up from hundreds OF
housetops, cannOns doomed and bonfires
were seen upon every corner; hundreds OF
men in line paraded the streets with
drums and torches, bowling like wild
men over their victory. No such scene
was ever witnessed in Utah as can be seen
in Salt Lake tonight.
The Mormons remain indoors and have
nothing to say of the result except hat
the election was carried by fraud and that
they will surely contest it. They admit
defeat, but claim the majority will not ex-
coed 400. Official returns wi not he in
until late tonight.
At 10 o'clock the crowds upon the
streets became so great that street cars
were compelled to stop running and all
traffic was suspended, The excitement is
increasing and the celebration will doubt
less continue until morning. Notwith
standing the great excitement a spirit of
good nature prevails and no disposition to
quarrel is shown or to raise disturbances.
Saloons are all closed and not a single
drunken man is seen upon the streets.
Speaking edltorally upon to days con
test, Judge q. G. Goodwin Of the Tri
bmne, says: "A great wave of thankful.
ness will sweep over Utah to day. The
blow delivered yesterday upon Mormon
ism as a political power was a terrible
one, and news of it will strike upon
thousands OF hearts like a visible answer
to prayer. February 10th, 1890, marks
an epoch in Utah's history. To the men.
tai vision of old narrow fanatics it will
seem like one of those cataclysms which
science denominates a geological period
They will be forced to pause and ask
themselves If it is possible that for all
these years they have been mistaken, and
their hearts will be very sore.
I'VE believe that on the other hand
twice ten thousand women who are bound
in the tolls of Mormonism will. while