The record-union., 1897-02-04
JOSEPH L. RAVLINS
ELECTED UNITED STATES SEN
ATOR FROn UTAH.
Close of One of the Most Exciting
Political Contests Ever Held
in That State.

SALT LAKE, Feb. 3.-Rawlins 80,
Thatcher %, Henderson /, Brown l.
This was the result of the fifty-third
ballot Of the Utah Legislature, which
elected Joseph l.. Rawlins to be United
State Senator, and closed one of the
most exciting political contests ever
held in the State. 1t was such a
contest as could not have taken place
in any other State, owing to the pecu-
liar features which were brought into
the contest.
This was what might be called
church day in the joint Assembly.
Church talk was injected into the pro-
deedings so often and so persistently
that several times the presiding officer
had to call attention to the fact that
1t was a civil body, for the purpose of
transacting State business.
Consulate lions between Henderson and
Rawlins men before the balloting this
morning showed plainly that something
important would take place, and the
word was quickly passed around that
it was to be a Rawlins day On the
first ballot Thatcher lost one vote, while
Rawlins gained six from Henderson,
A recess was then taken to 3 p. m,
and when the assembly convened again
over an hour was lost in efforts made
by the Thatcher men trying to force an
adjournment. When the balloting be-
gan nearly fourth of the members
took advantage of the latitude allowed
for explaining their votes. and delivered
political speeches in favor of their re-
spective candidates. Nearly all of
Thatcher's friends made open charges
OF church influence against their can
didate, while his opponents were vehe-
ment in denial of such charges
Rideout made a vigorous speech in
favor of absolute separation of church
and State. He referred to block of
five" votes that had been transferred
by some unseen hand from Henderson
to Rawlins, and said he expected to see
more of that kind of work before the
close Of the ballot. He closed by say
Ing that if under the conditions his can
didate Thatcher) should be defeated
and should take his case into the Unit
ed States Senate, he could not be
blamed.
Sloan, Chairman of the Democratic
State Committee, one of Thatcher's
leaders, made a ringing speech for his
candidate. He said he had in his pos
session letter written by member
of the Legislature, in which he had
said that he recognized a higher author
ity than his duty to the State. Sloan
served notice that if a United States
Senator was elected by the vote of tina
member he would contest his right to
vote on the question.
When the roll call was finished. Raw
Inns had 81 votes, or within one of cleo
tion, while Thatcher had about "A. Sew
eral members changed to Thatcher from
other candidates, until the vote was
brought up to 20. During the time the
changes were going on the excitement
was intense, and the applause from the
members and galleries almost shook the
building. Calls were made for Repre-
sentative Wilson to change and swell
the Thatcher vote, but without avail.
Finally Representative Hansen, a Re-
publican, who had voted for Goodwin,
changed to Rawlins, and his election
was officially announced.
Joseph Lafayette Rawlins is 46 years
old, and was born in Salt Lake County.
Utah. He received part of his educa-
ton in this city, graduating in the In
diana State University at Bloomington.
He studied law in this city, and was
to the bar in 1919. He has al
ways been identified with the Demo-
cratic party of Utah, and is an advocate
of the free coinage Of silver. He was
elected to Congress as a delegate on the
Democratic ticket in 1892, defeating
Frank j. Cannon, but was defeated by
Cannon in 1894. He was delegate to
the last Democratic National Conven-
tion and was a member of the Commit
tee on Resolutions. He is at present a
member of the law firm of Rawlins &
Critchlow in this city.