The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-02-04
RAWLINS IS SENATOR
Intense Excitement in the Legisla-
tive Halls of Utah.
SOME RELIGION INJECTED
Mr.. Hanson, a Republican and a
Goodwin Man, Changed His
Vote and Brought to a Close
the Senatorial Contest.

salt Lake, Utah. Feb. 3,-Rawlins.
%; Thatcher -; Henderson, /; Brown.
|, This was the result of the 53rd bal
lot of the Utah Legislature which elect
cd Joseph l.. Rawllns Ia the United
states senate and closed one of the
most exciting political contests ever
held In the state. II was such
contest as could not have taken place
IN any other state, owing to the pecu
liar features which were brought into
III" contest. This was what might br
called church day in the joint assem-
hly. Church talk was injected into the
proceedings So often and so persistent
ly that several times the presiding Otll-
Ger had To call attention To the fact
that il was a civil body for the purpose
of transacting state affairs. \ CON
sultation between Henderson and Raw
lins men before the balloting this morn
ing showed plainly that something inn
portant would take place, and word
was quickly passed around that II was
To lee Rawlins' day. On the first ballot
Thatcher lost one vote. while Rawlins
gained six from Henderson. putting
him at the top of the list. a recess
was then taken to 3 O'Clock and when
the assembly convened again more
than an hour was lost on efforts made
by the Thatcher following trying To
force an adjournment.
When the balloting began, nearly
fourth Of the members took ad-
vantage of the latitude allowed
for explaining their votes and
delivered political speeches In IA
for at their respective votes. Nearly
all nf Thatcher's friends made open
charges nf church influence against
their candidate, while his opponent.
were vehement in denial of such
charges. Rideuut made vigorous
speech in favor Of absolute separation
of church and state. He referred 10 "A
block of five" votes that had been
transferred by some unseen hand from
Henderson to Knwlins and said he eN-
pected Ia see more of that kind Of work
before the end OF the ballot. He closed
10y saying that If. under the conditions.
his candidate tThatcherl should be de-
feated and should take his case into
the United States senate, he could not
he blamed
Sloan, chairman Of the democratic
state committee and one of the Thatch-
er leaders. made a ringing speech for
his candidate. He said he had In his
possession letter written 10y mem
Der of the Legislature in which h. had
said that he recognized a higher au-
thority than his duty to the state
Sloan served notice that II United
States senator was elected 10y the vote
of that member. he would contest his
right to vote on the question. When
the roll call was finished u appeared
that Rawlins had - votes on within one
of election. while Thatcher had about
"a. Several members changed Ia
Thatcher from other candidates until
his vote was brought up to ~. During
the time the ctenges We're going on the
excitement was intense and the ap-
plause from the members and gal
laries almost shook the building. Calls
were made for Representative Wilson
tn change and swell the Thatcher vote,
hut without avail. Finally Reprcs"n-
tatiVe Hansen. republican. who had
voted for Goodwin. changed to Rawlins
and his election was officially an
nounced.
loseuh Lafayette Raw lins Is " years
old and was born in salt Lake county,
Utah. and received part OF his rduoa :
tion here, graduating later in the lndl-
ana state university AT bloomington.
He studied law in This city and was
admitted TO the bar i'm 1875. lie has
always been identified with IN" demo
cratic party of Utah and Is an advocate
Of the free coinage of silver lie was
elected to congress on the democratic
ticket in 1882. defeating Frank Cannon.
but was defeated by Cannon for CON
cressional delegate in 1884. He was u
delegate To the last democratic national
&c invention and was memh'r OF the
/ committee on resolutions He IL at
present Of the law firm of Rawl!ns IL
Critchlow In this city.