The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-19


many members of the legislature ex-
pressing a preference for United States
senator Will influence any votes. The
views of some of the members were
printed in The Herald Sunday and
Monday mornings and others were Sc
cured yesterday.
Senator John T Caine was asked
what effect the petition of the Salt
Lake county delegates would have up
on his vote. He answered as follows:
There are several reasons why L
cannot allow the petition to influence
my vote. In the first place, / do not
recognize the right of the petitioners
to designate themselves as members
of the Salt Lake county Democratic
convention. There can be no such
mem bers When the Salt Lake county
convention which nominated me ad-
journed, the functions of its members
or delegates ceased, and from that
hour their desires or wishes on any po-
litical question are entitled to no more
consideration than those of other
citizens.
If the delegates TO that convention
had any instructions to give to ITS
nominees, they should have been given
in open convention, where the matter
could have been discussed pro and con,
and if the instruction concerned SEN
atorial candidates, their respective
merits, qualifications and adaptability
carefully considered. Then the candi-
dates for the legislature could have
exercised the option Of accepting or de-
clining the nomination. I doubt very
much if I would have accepted the
nomination under Instructions to vote
for any particular man for United
States senator.
4 consider my election to the state
senate as an expression of confidence
from the i, $50 people who voted for
me and an indication that they were
willing to leave this question to my
best judgment. A petition from
small fraction of those voters, whether
they were members Of the county con-
vention or not does not relieve me of
the responsibility.
II went into the legislature un-
pledged 10 any candidate for United
States senator and / remain so to the
present I have promised no man my
vote. While I entertain the highest
personal regard for all the candidates,
when the time comes for balloting I
shall cast my vote cOnScientiously for
the man whom ] believe can best dis
charge the arduouS duties Of the office
and do the most good for our state
and nation. When I have done this
shall have discharged my full duty in
shall submit TO their verdict upon my
action
REPRESENTATIVE CALLS.
Representative Calls of Summit
county expressed himself as follows:
The signers of the petition from
Summit are prominent and influential
Democrats. Any request from them
demands and is entitled to respectful
consideration. IT is true that the Ia
dies and gentlemen whose signatures
are attached to the petition comprised
the convention that nominated me, but
the only obligation they then imposed
upon me was that 1 should vote fora
Democrat for senator whose record on
the silver question attested his loyalty
to the white metal. That obligation L
cheerfully assume. 1t is still my
earnest determination to faithfully dis
charge il. Therefore. in the absence
OF any instructions from the conven-
ton to cast my vote for senator for
any particular individual. my friends, 1
think, Will not deny my right to be
guided by my own judgment, formed
after earnest thought
Representative Hardy Of Sanpete
county said: 4 think that l am better
informed upon that subject than some
of the petitioners. The Sanpete mem
bers have received petitions asking us
have also received petitions asking us
to not vote for him. While l esteem
these petitiOnsers very highly, and
would not disregard their wishes Il [
could avoid il, 1 shall follow my own
judgment.
OTHER MEMBERS TALK.
Mrs. La Barthe stated that she had
not read the Salt Lake petition through,
but it would not influence her vote.
Mr. Kenner of Salt Lake said: Il
deny the right Of those petitioners to
instruct us by virtue of having sat as
delegates in the convention. They are
simply entitled to the same cOnsidera-
ton as other citizens.
AIr Romney of Salt Lake: Il was
elected on the free silver issue. l was
not instructed in favor of any man
and will use my own Judgment
MORE PETITIONS RECEIVED.
Thatcher headquarters last evening
reported the receipt of the following
petitions in favor of their candidate:
To State Senator Johnson and Repre-
sentative Overson, signed by the chair
men and secretaries of the various
county and district conventions in their
district.
To the Utah county members, signed
by "a Democrats. of that county.
10 senator anu INSpIc-
sentative Murdock, signed by 81 citi-
Zens of Wahlsburg, Wasatch county.
To Senator Alfred and Represent
atives Sorenson and Hardy, signed by
10 voters of Sanpete county.
To the Weber county members, signed
by SO delegates to the county conVen-
ton.
To Senator Robson and Represent
alive Ray, signed by every man and
woman to whom il was presented.
To Senator Chambers. signed by all
the Wasatch county delegates to the
district convention.
The following telegram, signed by 20
citizens of Gunnison, was received by
Senator Alfred and Representative
Hardy: Unless you vote for Moses
Thatcher, don't come back to San
pete
REPUBLICANS INTERESTED.
Queer Petition Sent to Representa-
tive Dotson From Beaver.
Representative Dotson last evening