The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-05-30

centered in the question of creating {
state government. AS it is the only
territory engaged in that enterprise
the interest is thereby greatly
heightened.
A matter of some interest was de-
veloped during the contest for the per.
manent organization of the conVen.
ton. The Republican party here, as
elsewhere, has factions, and this con
vention is not an exception. Among
its members is the Hon. c.. C. Good
win, editor of the Tribune, a rank Re-
publican ex-Liberal journal of this
city, also the Hon. Charles S. Varian
ex-United States attorney, and by far
the ablest lawyer on the Republican
side of the house. There is an amino
sity existing between the Tribune out
fit and Mr.. Varian, extending over
many years of Utah history. There is
also a member of the convention by
the name of Charles Crane, chairman
of the Republican territorial commit
tee, resident of Salt Lake and repre-
sentative from Willard county, who
enjoys the distinction of being opposed
to both of the other factions. In their
desire to aid or defeat each other, the
unique spectacle was presented of the
Tribune crowd petitioning for a GER
tificate for Mr.. Smith in order to elect
him chairman and prevent Mr. Varian
being chosen, and also Mr. Crane ask
ing for the same favor in order to
prevent Mr.. Goodwin from being
chosen. The prayer OF each was
finally granted by the action of the
convention. but from entirely different
motives.
Constitution Making.
But the convention was soon under
full sail at the enormous expense of
q hOUr $500 for zach ~
The first great struggle-and in fact
one which was uppermost during the
entire Voyage-waS to teach the preSi-
dent few lines of parliamentary law,
but this is acknowledged to have been
a failure.
Organized on strictly party lines, for
the purpose OF guarding every point
Of vantage, the committees have
nevertheless been able to accomplish
fairly good work by reason of the
presence of an intelligent and untiring
Democratic minority. 1t was hardly
to be expected, that an inferior instru-
ment would be framed, having the
guidance of forty-four other constitu-
tons, yet, the document has been I'M
necessarily loaded down with legisla-
tive provisions. The great struggles
IN the formation have been over the
question Of apportionment, suffrage.
prohibition and the judiciary, as also
over portions Of the articles on revenue
and public debt. While not securing
all that was desired or fair. the mi
nor1ty OF the convention, aided by a
dozen Republicans under the leader
ship of the Hon. Z. 5. Varian, above
referred to, were able to engraft such
safeguards against future extravagant
legislation, and to place such limit
upon the debt contracting powers as
TO JUSTIFY the assertion, that in all
0r-rf arr1o
Democratic. 1t is a source of much
PRIDE to the Democrats to point to the
fact. that in this large assemblage
they had the greatest number of able
men.
There are some who seem to appre-
bend that ecclesiastical influences will
Still prove an important factor in
working out the results. The celebra-
ted manifesto issued by the dominant
church in 1890 was followed by a SOL
emn declaration by the heads of that
organization, asserting that the hands
OF the church were entirely lifted from
the people in all political matters: that
pledge was accepted in good faith by
the party divisionists, and its rigid
compliance will be insisted upon by
every true-hearted American. no mat
ter of what political party he may be
a member. But mutterings of dissat-
iSfaction are in the air; how truly
those who once INDUCED in practices
contrary to the law of the land, under
the plea of religious justification, are
keeping the faith promised in the man
ifesto, is a disputed proposition One
arrest, that of John Beck, a. celebrated
mine owner, has been made and more
may follow, reaching into high eccies-
iastical circles. and threatening to cut
off at the knees some who are prom
lnent in both political parties. We are !
inclined to believe that should any |
general movement in the line of re-
newed prosecutions be made it will
result in purifying the political at
mosphere and casting out individual |
lawbreakers, rather than in any SER
ious setback to the division movement. |
We do not believe that this people can
go back on the pledge made by De1<
gate Rawlins in Congress.
Rawlins' Address.
In his magnificent address before the