Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-11

rally with the MOrmonS as q mass. 1t Will
be remembered that Mr.. RawIfns made a
sharp and vigorous reply to the speech Of
Congressman Morse OF Massachusetts, who
had attacked the Mormons in the discussion
OF the bill for the admission Of Utah. This
has endeared Rawlins very much to the
Mormons, and strengthened the democrats
accordingly. There are others who believe,
too. that the influence Of the Mormons will
be cast in favor of democratic legislature
at the coming election for the sake Of max
ing sure that President Cleveland will issue
the proclamation admitting the state. in
cese the enabling act is adopted, as 1t
doubtless will be.
Curious Phase of Woman's Suffrage.
Woman suffrage is to cut quite an i'm
portant feature in the coming election in
Utah. and might prove quite serious fac
tor in the admission of the territory as a
state, and in the admission of Senators to
seats In the Senate. The situation is
somewhat complicated and Interesting one.
Women formerly voted in Utah, but they
were disfranchised several years ago, for
the purpose of making the control of polyg-
amy less difficult, for all the Mormon
women voted in the interests Of poIygamy.
When the constitution for the proposed
new state was framed it provided that
women should have the right to vote in
the new state-should have all the rights
that men have, in voting. holding Office,
etc. This new constitution Is to be voted
upon at the November election, and at the
same time the voters are to vote for OFF,
GERS, a governor, members of the legisla-
ture, etc, who are to assume the duties of
the offices, provided the constitution is
adopted and the President issues his procIa-
NATION making Utah a state. Curious!y,
1t Is assumed that the women have the
right to vote at the election at which the
proposed constitution is to be voted upon.
1t is only that constitution which makes
them voters if adopted yet it is assumed
that they may vote, rot only on it's adop-
ton, but also for members of the lesisla-
ture, governor and other state officers, at
the approaching November election. This
proposition, strange as it seems, has been
submitted to the court of the territory, en-
United States court and the democratic
judge has decided in favor OF the women
The case has been appealed, for the sake
OF final decision before the election. to
the highest territorial court, and the deci-
sion Is now awaited with much interest.
Meantime, the women are regfste ring and
preparing to vote. What the effect of this
may be. either OH President Cleyeland's
proclamation admitting the state, or on the
reception OF the Senators elected by legis-
lature chosen by the aid of women's votes
under these peculiar circumstances, Is hard
to say. 1t might result IN a contest of the
seats Of the Senator'S in case either party
see any advantage to be gained by 1t.
Neither Party IL Confident.
TO say that either of the great parties Is
confident Of securing control of the leyis
lature Of Utah. and the subsequent cleo
ton OF United States Senators from here,
would be inaccurate. To say that both are
hopeful would be true. On the whole. the
democrats exhibit more confidence than
90 the republicans. The fact that the re-
pupi1cans have not been accustomed to
success here. except in last falls election,
adds to the confidence of the democrats
while the current belief that the vote of
the Mormon women will be adverse to the
republicans is another important factor in
the conclusions which are reached. Be-
side. all Utah is for free silver, and while
there has been little in recent democratic
history to encourage the silver people,
there is feeling among the friends of Gil
do anything for them their only hope is in
the democracy. In addition to this there
Is apparently more bitterness among the
republicans. and more strife over the local
oHces and local matters. One of the most
strongly-marked features of this condition
grows out of the candidacy of Col Isaac
Trumbo for the United States Senate. Mr.
Irumbo Is native of Utah. of Mormon
descent. He was formerly resident here
but decade or so ago transferred his resi-
dence to San Francisco. where he is said to
have accumulated considerable wealth.
When he saw that Utah was about to come
prominent and costly residence of the city,
known as the Amelia palace" and an
nounced himself as a candidate for the
United States Senate He spends money
lavishly. and is said to represent or to
have some sort of business relation with
the great Central Pacific railroad interest.
His candidacy has awakened bitter HOSTILE
ty. especially on the part Of the only repub-
lican paper of the city, whose editor. Judge
Goodwin, Is looked upon a senatorial
aspirant. This paper, the Tribune, while
somewhat out Of harmony, not alone with
the Trumbo followers. but with many Of
the republicans, thus adding to the compli-
cations of the situation.
The Women Will Settle 1t.
1t is clearly in the power of the Mormon
leaders to determine whether Utah shall
be republican or democratic at the coming
election. They will tell you that 1t prob
ably lies in the hands of the women of the
territory to determine the result of this
election, and that the tendency among the
women is toward democracy. 1t was the
republicans who took the right to vote
away from them some years ago. and it is.
a democratic judge who recently decided
that the women should have the right to
vote in the coming election. So, it Is as
stunned that the WoE'an's vote may carry
the new state for the democrats, and re-
States Senators. But there can be no doubt
of the power Of the Mormon leaders to in
huencs tie votes tf the women. If they
choose to do So and to influence the
the church also. No organization known TO
this country at the present day has been
kept so thoroughly In the control Of its
leaders, and while there is something OF
weakening Of the sharply drawn lines since
the disappearance of polygamy the control
of the leaders Is still almost absolute. This
is especially true with the women, There
are probably 1900 women in Utah who
were plural wives, and who were put away
by order of the new dispensation, which
required each poiygamous husband to take
as his legal wife the one he first married,
but to continue to support and care for the
others. A beautiful home" was erected by
the church for such Of the discarded wives
as might need public care, but nobody has
needed its shelter, SO completely and thor
oughly have these men cared for and sup
ported their ex-wiveS. They have given
them homes, supported and cared for them,
and done all they could in their behalf, and
the women have Loyalty lived single, none
OF them remarrying. Those who have need
ed additional aiG have had 1t from the
church. That 1t Is just as easy for the
leaders of the church to maintain dis
cipEne among both sexes as it ever was is
quite apparent. The only question 70
whether they want to do so, and if So on
which side their decision will fall
National Importance of the Issue.
With thu party control of the United
States Senate depending to a great extent
at least upon the two additional votes
which Utah will furnish when she becomes
a state, it is not surprising that attention
is turning from all parts Of the country to
thfS he ole xUhic 10 IN oil