Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-11
ALL EYES ON UTAH
National Significance Of the Political
Fight in Progress.
THE STRUGGLE FOR THE SENATORSHIP
Fair Woman May Settle the Ques-
tons Under Consideration.
LIV ELY TIMES AID
LIVELY TIMES AID
Of The Evening Star.

to see the well-known face of George @.
Cannon make its appearance in the United
States Senate, when the Utah Senators
are called after the state is admitted and
her new Senators elected. The preparations
for the election Of legislature which is
to choose United States Senators is now
the chief topic here. Gubernatoriaf candi-
dates. senatorial candidates, legislative can
didates, aspirants for tudgeships and other
state offices are plentiful and active. All
state officers are to be chosen at the No
vember election. and the legislature then
elected will be called together probably as
soon as the President issues his proclama-
ton admitting the state, and the struggle
for the senatorships begun. The fact that
each party has strong hope of capturing
the legislature has produced a large and
growing crop of candidates for the United
States Senate. On the democratic side the
most prominent are ex-Delegates Game
ard Rawlins. Both these men did the ter
ritory excellent service in Congress, and
have very strong personal as well as po-
litical following. OF course. the railroad
interests are not Idle, and the Union Pacific
candidate for the Senate on the democratic
side is p. L. Williams. who has been the
attorney of that road here. On the republic
can side there are more candidates, and
consequently less harmony. One of the
strongest and most highly respected of the
republican candidates is c. W. Ben
nett, formerly of Chicago, but for many
years leading and active republican here.
He is a GENTLE or non-Mormon. Judge
Goodwin, the editor of the Tribune, for
merly of Nevada, but a dozen years a
resident here, is also a candidate He is
not popular with the Mormons, having fred
hot shot into their ranks for years; be-
sides, he Is making very bitter fight
against Col. Trumbo, who in his candidacy
FOR the Senate has considerable following.
Arthur Thomas is also another prom
inent candidate. Frank ]. Cannon, who is
the recently elected delegate. is also an
avowed candidate. He Is a son Of George
=. Cannon, the real head Of the Mormon
Church. In addition to these there is a
well-defined belief that George .. Cannon
himself would like a seat in the Senate.
he remembers, apparently not with bit
terness, but with very distinct recollec-
ton, the fact that he was refused a seat
In the House because of poly gamy, and it
is believed that he would like to round out
mis- career with term III the Senate, now
that polygamy is thing of the past. And
II Is not imDrObablo, as ii now appears
that If the legislature is republican Frank
j. Cannon may step aside anil transfer to
his father lne Mormon and other SUPPORT
he has, and elect him.
Points on Cannon's Candidacy.
To those who remember Mr.. Gannon's
Affiliations with the democrats. the sugges-
ton that he may come to Washington as
a republican Senator may seem a little
strange. Other things being equal, how
ever, 1t is natural that the Mormons should
cast their lot with the republicans They
are naturally protectionists. That great
principle was the one upon which they
built up their prosperous community, and
Its prosperity In the midst Of this desert
has been something wonderful Not only
SO, but there are other reasons why they
seem likely to favor the republican party
The recent democratic legislation taking
the tariff off Of wool was serious blow to
them. for Utah Is a great sheep and wool
country. There was, prior to the
removal of the duty on wool, no more re-
liable investment here than a large flock of
sheep. 1t was SO much SO that men could
depend with accuracy upon always getting
ready returns from investments in this
line. more safe and ready than any other
But the removal of the duty on wool
changed all that, and has strengthened re-
at the same time. Then, too,
the repeal OF the bounty on sugar was a
serious blow to the Mormons. They had
established beet sugar industry, and just
got 1t on a paying basis, and with prospect
of great success, when the democratic Con-
eress swooped down upon them and took
the bounty away. Now sugar, by reason
Of the overproduction abroad, Is cheaper
than ever known. and they get no bounty
on what they produce. This Is embarrass-
ing to the people whose hundreds of thous-
aids of dollars were put into the beet sugar
and on the farmers who had look
ed forward to profit from the production of
sugar beets. Beside this. the three leading
men of the church. William Woodruff, Jo-
seph Smith and George 9: Cannon. are re.
outspoken republicans, and it Is understood
that Mr.. Cannon's sympathies and views
are with the republicans, although he sat
on the democratic side when delegate In
Congress. Going even further back, It Is
asserted that the first Joseph Smith was
and his writings on this sub
iect have been made use of to align the
Mormons with the republican party in for
mer elections.
The Mormon Question.
1t is not surprising, therefore, that the
one question which is being asked with
much anxiety here is as to the attitude or
the leaders of the Mormon community, In
regard to national politics. The fact that
nearly two-thirds Of the voters Of Utah
at least-are Mormons, or sub
ject to Mormon influence, makes this an
important question. Not only so. but the
Utah There are Mormon communities all
The adjoining states and terri
tories. The Mormons are especially an
people, and when they nave
In the past found fertile spot unoccupled
In any of the adjoining territory their
policy has been to occupy 1t. Little bands
Of young men and women have been sent
out year by year, to occupy the lenu,
and have done so, persistently, faithfully.
The result Is that there are thousands of
Mormon votes today in Colorado Wyoming.
Idaho, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico;
Not enough to control those states and
states directly, but sufficient In
nearly all of them to hold the balance of
power between the two great parties, to
give to either one with whom they may de-
eide to cast their lot the control of the
state In which they are located. The I'M
portance, therefore, of the attitude OF the
Mormons as a body, with relation TO ma
tional politics cannot be over estimated.
While having membership in their church
organfzation of some 10000, 1t is SO dis
that, If swung as a body, 1t can
control the sena torships Of probably five
states. That power which can control the
election of ten United States Senators with
in the next two or four years is one that
the politicians will not neglect.
The Democratic Standpoint.
While the democrats recognize the fact
that there is a tendency in the direction of
in the views and surround
rigs of the Mormons, they do not concede
that the republicans are going to carry the
coming election, or that the Mormons are
I:kely to cast their lot with that party, as
4 class They call attention to the fact
that the early republican platform classed
polygamy and slavery as twin relics Of
barbarism,' that the republican party orig
l. r;-1p tIny,, lar h fob No