The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-02-15
THE STATEHOOD DELAY.

There has been a great deal Of specu-
lation and Misrepresentation about
the delay Of the Utah statehood bill in
the Senate. The following letter, re-
ceived yesterday, will throw some light
on the subject and may be relied upon
It should be accepted in preference to
the biased and partisan statements
which have been sent in deceptive dis
patches from Washington.
Washington, D. c.,
Feb. 6, 1894.
Hon. Q. ". Powers:
II am not now fearful as to the fate
Of the statehood bill in the Senate. 1t
will be passed there during the pre-
sent session. There is some reluctance
TO take up and pass the bill at once
as Democratic Senators are in some
doubt as to whether Utah might con-
clude to do the foolish thing of send
ing two Republicans to the Senate
If this should happen they desire that
II be delayed until after the expiration
of the present Congress sc that the
passage of important Democratic
measures may not be retarded Such
delay as may result here viii be done
act as it passed the House. if it should
pass soon in the Senate, the election
for state officers and for the ratifica-
ton, would not probably take place
before next November Senators
could not be elected before January
and would be barely able, if at ali,
to take their seats before the expira-
ton of the present Congress. You
may assure our political friends that
the statehood bill viii be rassed dur
ing the present session Of Congress- If
our Republican friends are unable TO
endure the delay, 1 hope the Demo-
Gratis viii submit to it with becoming
fOrrtude.-Very truly yours,
J. L. RAWLINS.
There can be nothing surprising to
reasonable minds that the turn in the
TIDE of political affairs which took
place last fall in this territory, and
particularly in the election in this
city subsequently, had dampening
effect upon the friends of Utah in
Congress. The Herald foreshadowed
that, previous TO the municipal cleo
ton, and argued that it was bad poll
ties on the part of people who de-
sired immediate statehood.
1t must be clear to every thought
full person that the probability Of
Utah's sending two Republicans to the
United States Senate, would not be
very stimulating to the leaders of the
Democratic party in their efforts to
place that power in the hands of the
Utah people. The Democratic party is
pledged to certain reforms. It was
placed in control to carry into effect
the declarations in its platform. Any
thing that would inlperil its power to
accomplish this may well be regarded
with some dubiety.
Our warnings as to that were treated
with ridieule by some Republicans,
and their organs, who professed to de-
sire statehood with as much intensity
as that felt by the Democrats. Some
of them, however. took the extreme
ground that they would rather have
Utah wait for statehood indefinitely
than see her go into the Union as a |
Democratic state.
From what has lately been done at
the seat Of government, it appears GER
tain that some persons who have pro-
fessed great desire for immediate state |
hood have endeavored to prevent it
such conduct is highly reprehensible,
and when exposed as it will be should
meet with its just reward.
It is all very well for Republicans
to sneer and talk about a party that
would keep a territory out of the I'm
ion on political grounds. But they
know very well if the tables were turn
ed. they would continue their policy
Of the past, and keep Utah out Ct the
Union till the very last possible mo-
ment unless she showed a leaning TO-
wards Republican politics
We repeat what we have said many
times, that the Democratic party will
admit Utah. The bill win pass the
Senate and President Cleveland win
sign it when it reaches him. If there
is some delay over its passage, that
cannot reasonably be wondered at un-
Ger the circumstances.
We believe The bin viii pass during
the present session. and we hope that
before action on the statehood question
is taken by the people here, they will
have seep he folly of joining a party
that always showed intense bitterness
10 Utah until there seemed to be
likelihood Of its turninss Republican, and
that they win support the party which
has always been disposed to strike off
their chains. The slight delay that is