Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-02-11
A MORMON WATERLOO.
The Gentiles Carry the Day
at Salt Lake.
THE LIBERAL TICKET ELECTED.
The Mormon Power Receives Its
Death BlOw-Wild Scenes or
Rejoicing.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD
SALT LAKE Cry, Utah, February TO-
The municipal election in this city, the
result of which is attracting the attention
of the whole country, passed off quietly
today, contrary to the general expecta'
ton. The city has been crowded fol
days with special police, detectives and
Deputy United States Marshals for the
purpose of preventing illegal voting.
which each party claimed the other
would resort to for the purpose of carry.
ing the day. 1t had been anticipated
that the attempt to challenge and arrest
some voters would create trouble which
would resultin riot and bloodshed. This,
however, was not realized, though the
excitement was intense. Half of the
business houses were closed, bands
paraded the streets, and the thorough
fares were jammed with excited citizens
who realized that upon the result of to-
days battle depended the future of the
Mormon church as political organiza-
tion. The voting passed off as quietly as
in some hamlet for country justice. Only
six arrests were made for attempting to
vote illegally, and these we're made with
out any demonstrations from either side
Snow began falling this morning and
continued till noon, when the SUI came
out, melting the snow and turning the
streets into rivers of slush. This did
not deter the voters, many of whom
waded through mud to the polling
places, while hundreds of carriages ran
between precinct headquarters and
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 (Mor-
mons') registered vote had been cast,
and about so per cent. of the Liberal.
AT this hour the estimated returns at the
lattsr's headquarters gave them ma
jority of 207 votes, though up to II
O'Clock the Mormons had q majority
ranging from 200 to 800.
AT o'clock the estimated returns from
every ward in the city gave a total vote
of 6,29S, divided; Gentiles, 3,443; Nor
mons, 1856.
At O'Clock tonight Chairman Powers
claims that the Gentle majority will
reach 1,400. This, however, is denied
by Chairman Richards, who says it is
impossible to say which eide is victori-
GUS till the complete returns are in, late
tonight.
The Mormons claim that film. fam
ming and fraud has been the order of the
day with the Gentiles, and if they are
victorious it will have been by these
methods, and in this event the Mormons
will contest the election to the Supreme
Court of the United States.
The polls closed at six o'clock, and the
Liberal leaders posted bulletin in the
windows of their headquarters, claiming
q majority of 1900. The news soon
spread over the city, and the Gentiles
took possession of the city. Flags were
run up, and every GENTLE building in
the city was decorated with flags and
lanterns; fireworks we're sent up|
from hundreds of house tops; cannons
doomed and bonfres 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
bs seen in Salt Lake tonight.
The Mormons remain in doors
and have nothing to say on the result
except that the election was carried by
fraud, and that they will surely contest
it. They admit defeat, but claim the
majority will not exceed 400. The off.
cial returns will not be in until late to-
night.
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
= "a vyi1
doubtless continue until morning. Not
withstanding the great excitement. q
spirit of good nature prevails and no dis
position is shown to quarrel or raise a
disturbance. The saloons are all closed
and not drunken man is seen on the
streets.
AT II o'clock official returns from every
precinct in the city bat one, give George
M. Scott (Gentile), for Mayor, 1,24O
votss; Spencer Clawson (Mormon), 532
Returns from this precinct will probably
swell Scott's majority to S50
Speaking editorially upon today's con.
test, Judge @. @. Goodwin, of the Tribune,
says "a great wave of thankfulness
will sweep over Utah today. The blow
delivered yesterday upon Mormonism az
political power was terrible one, and
the news of it will strike upon thousands
OF hearts like visible answer to prayer
February 10, 1890, marks an epoch in
Utah's history. To the mental vision oi
the old narrow fanatics it will seem al
most like one of those cataclysms which
science denominases geological period.
They will be forced to pause
and ask themselves if it is pos
sible that for all these years
they have been mistaken, and theiI
hearts will be very sore. We believe
that, on the other hand, twice ten thou
sand women who are bound in the toilt
of Mormonism will, while kissing theil
babies to sleep tonight, thank God the
cup they were forced to drink will be
dashed from their children's lips. We
believe that the great body of young
Utah will rejoice openly or secretly al
the result. In the hearts Of the GENTLE.
who have waited and watched
for this day, the thought il
one of exultation And Thanksgiving
They have not worked with selfish
motives; they have never from the frs
asked aught except that the Mormon
power would assimilate itself to the
American laws. They have never worked
for anything except what they believed
would be of as much benefit to the Nor.
mons as to themselves. The struggle
has been to Americanize Utah, and al
the central State of the saints kingdom