The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-08-28

OF the RepuDllcan STATE convention
brings the conclusion that it viii nom
mate for governor Charley Crane, "of
Willard" in all probability on the first
ballot.
The line of battle has now settled
down. The contest lies between the
Tribune ring and Crane. 1t was
thought for a time that both could be
paci1ed by the nomination of third
man. Most of the delegates from the
middle country, that is. Sanpete, Utah,
Sewer, Juab and other counties in
that region, came to the city with that
idea. The first thing they wanted to
secure was harmony. They wanted 1t
spelled with a capital H. In their
great wisdom and political acumen,
born of close communion with sheep
and nature, they thought that by some
strong sweep they could repair all the
damages and put the Republican party
in a winning position.
Disappointment was enthroned on
the classic brows Of these peacemakerS
when they learned the true condition.
There was only one available dark
horse. His name is 2. T FarnSWorth.
He was found, however, to be lacking
in strength. All he could pull was
few votes from a tier Of counties in the
south where votes are as scarce as
The sage brush is plenty.
Some had an idea that Heber NJ.
Wells would be a good compromise
candidate They learned to their sor-
row that he was no more nor less than
another puppet pat up by the car Of
the Tribune Wells would have made
a strong dark horse if he had been
independent. He could have drawn
from this county and from Utah, Juab.
Tooele and other counties until his
strength would have put him right to
The front and he would have been the
faVortte when the break came.
But the greviouS error was committed
when the Wells campaign was put in
the hands of smooth O. Fred Leonard.
Any man less conspicuous as a boost
er for the Tribune would have done
good. Leonard only succeeded in
awakening the harmony men to the
fact that the Tribune had simply bait
ed two hooks and that no matter
whether Wells were nominated or
Thomas nominated the real power be-
hind the throne would be the Tribune.
The fact that the success of either
meant an indefinite reign of Tribune
bossism of the Republican party of
Utah and the control of the public
lands by the Tribune rormorants did
more to strengthen Crane than any
thing could have done, while Wells lost
most of the support that was being
given him on the plea Of bringing har-
mony into the ranks.
A strong effort was made during the
day TO bring out some strong third
man. Thee candidate, however, could
not be foInd. Alma Eldredge, of Sum
NIT county, would not let his name be
used. He is understood to be for Crane
first, last and all the time. Mayor
Holbrook, of Provo, could not get the
support of even his own delegation
Wseley X Walton, Of Rich, is a Crane
man. Charles R. Mcbride, Of Tooele,
would not run. The strongest effort
was made to bring out George a. Lowe.
He absolutely refused to allow his
name to be used.
The Wells strength, besides being
demoralized by the knowledge that he
was being pressed as a Tribune candi-
date, was considerably demoralized by
the fact that no one could tell where
Wells stood. Some said he was can
didate, others that he was not. Some
said he would accept, others that he
would not. There was nothing anthem
tic 1t was freely charged during the
been put up by the Tribune because it
knew beforehand it would be defeated
unless it could by some means keep
Crane from being nominated on the
first ballot. The idea now is to draw
enough from him to run the contest
for a few ballots. Then, when it is
found that a deadlock has set in, one
of the two Tribune candidates is to
Withdraw. The weakest man must sac
rsfs Golf HE H-ifhdrqrra1 &c IN
be signalized by an attempt to throw
his strength to the other man and
thus stampede the convention.
Another thing that has initiated
against those opposed to Crane has
been the fact that they have had no
large pledged vote to form a nucleus
around which to gather their possible
friends Early in the morning of yes
terday Crane was able to show a good
safe vote He had at least 100 from
Weber, Davis and the southern tier of
counties. This gave him an immense
advantage A canvass Of the Salt
Lake delegation convinced him that
he would secure at least half of the
ISL votes. Thus he was able TO draw
around him all that element which
likes to be with the winning side. It
is very comforting to the average dele
cate who is inclined to waiver in his
zrith The winning side. Many pick out
their candidates by casting about and
finding who is likely TO be the winning
man. Neither Thomas, Wells nor
Farnsworth had a secure vote large
enough to make q showing. Nearly
all who were not shouting for Crane
were wandering in labyrinths of doubt
and were open TO conviction.
n.-U.fc,,T C-arJ
The delegates who arrived yester-
day and the day before formed the
most doubtful crowd that ever came to
a political convention in Utah. For
months the Republican politicians in
the country have been endeavoring to
figure out the meaning of the move
Inents in Salt Lake. They have pored
over the newspapers and pondered
deeply. In the end they have come to
the conclusion that they do not I'M
Ilerstand what it all means, and that
fhes- must wait for more light before
ticking action. AS result the dele
yates who have arrived so far do not
know What they want or how they
will act. They are suspicious of every
thing. They believe they can find
some method of bringing order out of
chaos. They will not commit them
selves to anything or anybody. and
tell anxious candidates that they will
wait until the convention is held be-
fore expressing any preferences.
With such an immobile body the