Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-02-10
MORMONS vs.. GENTILES.
The Struggle for Supremacy
at Salt Lake.
MUNICIPAL ELECTION TODAY,
The Close of Holly Contested Cam.
paign-Each Party Charging
the Other with Fraud.

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD
SALT LAKE Cry, February 9.-The
campaign for the city election has been
one of the fiercest ever conducted any
where. 1t really began last June, and
has been growing in intensity ever since,
ending on the part of the Liberals by an
immense torchlight parade Friday night,
in which there were four thousand men.
Illuminations, bunting and fireworks
made the city a blaze of light. Last
night the Mormon party had their clos
ing demonstration, which was much the
same as the other, but there were only
three thousand in line, and much less
decoration and illumination, but an ele-
CANT display of fireworks.
The campaign has been great politi-
Cal educator, something needed here.
On Friday night the illuminated resi-
dences of the Liberals made the sky
light up with glare. Probably 1000
houses were lighted and decorated. The
election is tomorrow, and the Liberals
are confident of nearly 1000 majority.
TIE Mormons also claim success, but
make no figures.
Never before in the history of the Ter
ritory has political campaign been SO
bitterly fought as the one which closed
Saturday night for the election of munich
pal officers for this city on Monday. The
question at issue has been neither Re-
publican nor Democratic, but Mormons
vs. anti -Mormons. The last election for
member of the Legislature, which resulted
in the Liberals (anti- Mormons) carrying
the city by majority of Al, has caused
every man to come out and to work to
the uttermost, the Liberals to again carry
the city, and the Peoples party Cor Nor
mons) to prevent defeat from which
they could possibly never recover. The
interest is SO intense that the Legislature
on Saturday adjourned over to Tuesday.
decorated with flags and bunting as
though it were national holiday, and
during the past week torchlight process
sions, with thousands of men, were pa
rading the streets nightly.
To predict the result of the con-
test tomorrow is utterly impossible to
any degree of accuracy; both parties are
confident of success, but the majority for
either side will be very small.
THE MORMON CHAIRMAN INTERVIEWED.
In an interview by the Associated
Press, F. S. Richards, chairman of the
Peoples party, and one of the leading
Mormons of the Territory, was asked :
"Whst will be the effect upon the ad-
mission of the Territory into the Union
by either the defeat or victory of the
Peoples party at this election?"
1T should have no effect, for We are
entitled to statehood. Regarding local
politics, doubtless the Peoples defeat
would tend to remove Liberal opposition
to statehood, for the Liberal party is anx-
ious for statehood as soon as, but not un-
til, it shall gain absolute political domi-
nation in the State and her cities. But
this fact should not influence the Federal
Government, for it is monstrous to make
the sovereignty of commonwealth the
of local factions"
'Will the election of the Peoples
ticket retard the progress of the Territory
and immigration ?"
'No, Salt Lake now is one Of the most
safely progressive cities in America, and
that progress would be continued and
encouraged. The immigration of desira-
BILE citizens of all classes, and the invest
ment of capital would continue as in the
past. Only fictitious progress. and the
influx Of The dissolute or idle element
which attaches itself to a boom, would
be stay ed"
"Does your party favor admission into
the Union"
'Yes, if admission can be had upon
the basis OF equal rights to all Mormons
whose conduct is in accordance with the
law"
"What is the general feeling in regard
to the Edmunds and Edmunds-T Tucker
acts ?"
1.-The Liberals of course were gratified, !,
as these acts were calculated to afford
them considerable and unusual political
help. But the People regard some of
their features intolerant and unnecessary
to put in execution the Governments
plan against the former practice of plural
marriage. For instance, the arbitrary
confscation of church edi6ces and other
property is unworthy of q fres Govern
ment; also giving all jury selections,
even in civil cases, to the Liberals, is
deemed cruelty un-American."
"What will be the result to the Nor
mon church, any more than to any other
church ?"
Possibly discrimination against indi-
vidual members of the church might en-
sue. The result to our party weuld be
the same as to any other strong party
under SUCH circumstances. Political de-
feat is not always permanent. The day
might come, and that quickly, when all
classes of decent citizens would help our
party back into power. One year ago
the Liberals carried Ogden, and soon
there reigned such saturnalia of whiskev,
women and gambling, that the United
States officials were obliged to interfere
and enforce police regulations. The
moral Liberals of Ogden expressed dis
gust with their own party and wished
the People once more to control"
"Are not the Mormon church and the
Peoples party one?"
Certainly they are not. The idea
that they are is circulated for political
purposes in order that the ensctments
against the church may be operated
against the party. Membership or affili-
alton with the church is no requisite for
the Peoples party's standing or candi-
dacy."
fare the Edmunds and Edmunds.
Tupkar oato r1oad for p0l;t;o,l 49,