The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-01-15
ONE MORE STAR,
The Presidents Proclamation Admits Utah
10 Statehood.

to Statehood.
The formal admission of Utah as the
fortv-fiffh state in the Union, which
was consummated by the presidents
proclarnation on Saturday, important as
II is in itself, is of immediate signiii-
canoe in its relation 10 the question oil
political supremacy in Washington
Utah will send two Republicans to the
United States Senate. This is a result
which was hardly looked for at the time
il was decided to confer upon the territory
the benefits of statehood. The territory
has for many years been Democratic IN
politics, and it was supposed that when IL
was admitted as a state, it would be just
so much of an addition TO the Democratic
strength in Congress and in the electoral
college.
The result shows how little reliance
can I've placed upon apparent political
certainties. for Utah comes into the Union
as Republican state, and it now appears
that the conditions there are such as TO
keep it in the Republican column for
long time to come. 1t is protection COM
munity. Such prosperity as has come TO
il has been built up on protection INES
and in national politics it is safe to say
that hereafter its representatives Will be
found acting with the party of protection
at the national capital.
Two NEW SENATORS.
one of the first acts of the Utah leg
islature VIII be to elect two United States
Senators. One ofthese will be a GENTLE
the other Mormon, but whatever their
religious utilization, both will be Re
publicans. The significance of this IN ITS
bearing upon the political control of the
Senate requires exact statement.
There are now forty-two Repu blican
Senators out of a total membership of
eightv-seven. With the two new Sena-
tors from Utah there will 0e forty-four
Republicans out of a total membership
of eighty-nine, and there will be one
vacancy caused by the dispute in regard
to the Delaware election. With forty
four Senators the Republicans will still
be in a minority of one.
But when the Delaware case comes
up for decision there is no doubt that the
Republicans will be able to count upon
the votes of Stewart and Jones, possibly
of Peffer and Butler, also, to seat Colonel
Du Pont, who claims to have been legal
ly elected by the Delaware legislature as
the successor TO Senator Higgins. This
will give the Republicans exactly one
half of the Senate.
The admission of Utah into the Union
of states requires the addition Of another
star to the American flag. Although
Utah is now full-fiedged state, the
change in s'Gld Glory Will not be made
until July next. On and after that date
there will be officially forty-five stars in
the national ensign, being nearly three
and half times the number of the
original states. The most important re-
quirements in the legal admission Of
Utah have been fulfilled, but there are
number Of formalities yet TO be observed.
One of these is an executive order TO the
army and navy, announcing the addition
of another star to the national flag. This
order will take effect July 4, 1886.
The official arrangement of the stars
and of the stripes in the flag is in charge
OF special board of army and navy
officers. While it has not yet been oili-
cially decided, it is more than probable
that the new star will be added to the
fifth row from the top. This addition,
it is said, will make the appearance of
the union even more symmetrical than it
is at present.
There are now six rows of stars in the
union, the top and bottom rows being
each composed of eight stars and the
other four of seven stars each. In case Of
the admission of another state, its star
would be added TO the second row, thus
IN liking the top two rows and the bottom
two rows harmonic completely.