The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-11-05
STATEHOOD PROSPECTS.


The friends of the statehood move
ment may rest assured, from the most
positive statements of gentlemen high
up in the national Democratic party,
that there is nothing in the way of
Utah's admission unless she places it
there herself. Prominent men. how
ever, are watching this election. If
the scheme to make the Utah legisla-
ture Liberal and Republican by a ma
jority over the Democratic members
should succeed, that would form the
only block in her path.
1t is folly for Republicans to cry
out against this policy for it is ex-
actly their own. The national Repub-
lican party kept Utah out of the Union
because of her Democratic proclivities.
Local Republicans in canvassing this
territory used that as a plea for peo-
pie to change their politics, or at least
for people who had not declared them
selves to vote the Republican ticket
1t was one of their strongest urgings.
Now, when it is argued that it would
be poor policy for the Democrats to
take up the cause of a territory likely
to be Republican and carry it INTO
the Union as state, these same Re-
publicans are crying out against Dem
ocrauc partisanship.
The situation is this: The Demo-
cratic party controls both Houses of
Congress but the Senate only by a
bare majority. Two Republican Sena-
tors from Utah would work a mighty
change. Two Democratic Senators
would confirm the party in its control
of the Senate. Party necessity would
suggest that no risks must be taken.
If Utah has a Democratic legislature
by a good working majority over all,
it will show that she has kept her po-
litical faith If the majority is the
other way it viii at least cast doubt
on her party fidelity, and stand as
caution to the party that is ready
under proper conditions to take her
into the Union.
Everything is propitious for state
hood. The bill reported to the House
will pass soon after the regular ses-
sion is opened. It will not be delayed
in the senate THE PRESIDENT
WILL SIGN IT. All this is sure, IF
Utah does not spoil the whole business
by an act of supreme folly, in failing
to show her full affiiation with the
party which alone can give her free
dom.
The sentiment of the country has
changed on this question and former
foes are becoming friends. We clip
the following from the Denver News
which expresses the views of many
papers on this subject:
Utah's claim to statehood is based
upon the indisputable fitness of its
people for self-government Her finan-
cial condition at this time, as shown
by a recent census bulletin, will create
surprise and excite admiration where
ever the facts are presented for pub
lie perusaL The census shows that
the entire farm property of Utah is
valued at $50, 100000, and upon this
the mortgages amount to but $780,
900. less than / per cent. and the value
of the encountered farms is given at
81. 200.0 600 It is further shown that
less than 9 per cent. of the farmers of
Utah are renters and that the exports
of the territory are far in excess of the
imports. the people producing and
manufacturing nearly every important
staple article in use. If the people of
a territory like Utah can achieve pros