The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-12-15
Surprising Showing in the Re-
publican Committee Yesterday.
THE OLD LEADER POPULAR.
40 ONE ELSE COULD BE ELECTED
CHAIRMAN.
So the Whole Matter Was Passed
Until Some Future Date-Crane
Did Not Want the Position, But
Friends stood By Him-The Re-
publican Campaign Cost About
Ten Thousand Dollars.

.fhe meeting of the Republican state
committee yesterday was a warm af-
fair.
1t will be remembered that some time
ago George M. Cannon issued a letter
announcing his resignation as chair
man and suggesting that the commit
tee meet soon ito elect his successor.
Since then the Tribune has. at stated
Intervals, announced that the candi-
dates for the Craftsmanship were eX-
Governor Thomas. j. NJ. Tanner and
j. E. Dooley, conveying the idea that
one of those gentlemen would neces-
sarily be the choice.
The name of hon. Charles Crane.
who is called by the old time Republi-
cans the father of the party in
Utah. was never mentioned, but yes
terday's proceedings showed that a
great many members of the commit
tee have not forgotten their old leader.
1t appeared that what is known, per-
haps improperly, as the Tribune crowd,
fully expected that Mr.. Cannon's sue
cessor would promptly be chosen, but
he wasn't, and thereby dangleth a. mar
the delegates who arrived during the
morning and afternoon favored Crane
and when the committee finally met.
he developed such strength that the
other side became fearful, and the re-
suit Of it all was that Cannon's resig-
nation was laid ON the table. no sue
ceSsor was chosen. and the whole mat
ter went over until some future time
Another thing that developed was
tlat a
sense of the word. and refused point
blank to make any effort to secure MS
election. Had he been disposed to force
matters, he had the strength to Gre
ate a crisis at the meeting that would
have been disastrous for the party.
But whatever else may he said OF
Crane, he still has the good of the
party at heart, and so let the thing
Wide.
The committee met at 4:3O p. M, but
there was not quorum present and
an adjournment was taken until
o'clock to await the arrival of Kearns,
of Park City, and a proxy from JGab.
At the evening meeting there were six
teen votes and business was proceed
ed with.
It is said that an informal ballot had
previously been taken, and Cranes
strength was such that the others be-
came alarmed.
Mr.. Cannon presided at the meeting.
and his conduct was not such as to add
particularly to his popularity. When
his resignation was presented, he re-
tired in favor Of Presley Denny. The
resignation was laid on the table, to
be accepted at some future meeting OF
the committee.
Wesley K. Walton, Of Rich. was elect
ed vice-chairman
The accounts We're presented and
audited, and the report of Chairman
Cannon accepted. 1t showed that the
expenses of the late campaign We're
s9.S75. The matter Of the Indebtedness
left by ex-Chairman Benefits admins
tration and the expense of contestlng
the seats on the constitutional conven-
ton came up but no definite acton was
taken. ,
The committee then adjourned.
It is claimed that as the delegates
came in. they were taken in hand by
those who opposed Crane and when
that gentleman's strength developed
were urged, as a last resort, to post
none action. That was the most that
finely. combined strength could accom-
nIish. even with Crane entirely passive
in the matter
To another reporter Governor Thonn-
as stated emphatically that the use
IT his name was entirely unauthorized.
He was not a candidate for the CHAIR
manship, and had at no time sought It.