The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-20
IN THE SENATE.
Vote For Thatcher and Rawlins a
Tie.

Vote For Thatcher and Rawlins a
Tie.
No advantage can be claimed by
either of the two leading candidates in
the initial ballot for United States
senator. taken by the upper branch of
the Legislature yesterday afternoon.
! Senator Snow was not present. The
most important thing developed by the
vote is that there are six speculative
members in the senatorial body upon
| which the forces of the aSDirantS
must be concentrated before any of the
more prominent race horses may OBJ
tain a majority of the chamber
Thatcher and Rawlins each polled six
votes, leaving three for Judge Hender-
son, one for Lawrence and the surprise
of the lower house was sprung by the
woman of the chamber. Womanlike,
| she faltered at the thought of hurting
the feelings of either Thatcher, Raw
Inns or Henderson, and therefore re-
fused to vote for any of those gentle
men. and cast her prerogative for
Aquila Nebeker, president of the SEN
ate.
This is the distribution of the vote
as it stands in the upper house. Most
of the senators felt it incumbent to
explain their attitude in selecting
choice for the highest office within the
gift of Utah. All were impressed with
| the gravity of their particular positions;
some were tinged with regret because
! judgment directed them to decide like
| Romans against dearest and lifelong
friends. Although the prOnouncing of
eulOgieS by one senator over all of the
candidates when the orator had but
one vote to cast was opposed it was
| resolved that each member, in the
guise of personal privilege, had the in
herent right to explain his vote.
The proceedings were trifie more
| interesting that the ordinary ones of
the senate. The chaplain's prayer con-
! tanned fervent illusions to the special
business of the day and was charged
with hope that some patriotic son of
Utah should be called, who would
bring the answer from the people of
the state to the senate, well done,
good and faithful servants"
The lobby was packed with spec
tators, and after the routine matters
had been disposed of. Smoot moved
that the senate proceed to ballot for
United States senator.
Hamer desired that an amendment
be adopted fixing the hour for the vote
at o'clock. In supporting his offer
he considered it better for the senate
to select the same hour as already
named by the house for the reason
that under the circumstances urged by
him neither branch would be Influenced
by the vote of the other
Smoot was opposed to this. He could
conceive of no good reason why the
house should not know what action had
! been taken by the senate, as he would
not believe that the action of this body
could influence any vote in the house.
The original motion prevailed and the
president instructed the clerk to call
the roll on the first ballot for United
States senator The lobby was solidly
packed by this time and while there
was much craning of necks, there was
profound silence in the chamber
THE ROLL CALL.
Alfred" called the sharp voice of the
clerk
Judge Henderson" was the reply.
The senator arose deliberately and
directed his remarks point blank at
the presiding officer. He commenced /
like the Declaration of independence:
There comes q time, Mr.. President, |
in the lives of all public men when
they have TO make a choice among
friends. | think highly of all the can
didates who are aspirants for this |
great honor. l believe that any one
of them has the ability and ambition /
necessary to become the peer of any /
member of that great body"
The speaker was interrupted by Mr.. /
f1dUleI, WHO lNleTpOS6Q a point or or |
der. He inquired whether the senators /
were going to be allowed to make /
nominating speeches or deliver eulo-
gies. The chair ruled that any men, /
Der had the right to explain his vote /
and he so understood the gentleman !
who was addressing the body.
Mr.. Game proceeded with the state /
ment that he regretted there were !
not more places to fill, but as he pos (
sessed a vote which might not be cast !
for more than one, with the best of [
feeling for each of the candidates and /
malice toward none. he cast his vote !
for the Hon. Joseph L. Rawlins.
MRS. CANNON FALTERS.
The clerk proceeded without break /
to Senator Cannon. The only woman !
in the senate was evidently embar- !
raised as she arose to cast the first /
ballot ever recorded by a woman for |
a United States senator. Mrs. Can
non hesitated. looked about the cham |
Der as though sensible of her solitary
position, and then confessed the wom-
an underlying all questions of poll
tics.
II feel that 1 must make a similar
statement regarding my feelings. All
of the candidates before this body are
personal friends and I think SO much |
of each one that 1 am able to vote
for none" The speaker stopped and |
the body was in suspense until Mrs. |
Cannon added, Therefore 1 cast my
vote for the Hon. Aquila Nebeker for
United States senator.
Then the representative of woman
hood in politics sat down satisfied with /
the only thoroughly dramatic thing the
days events brought forth.
SENATOR EVANS POSITION.
Mr.. Evans responded to his name by
saying: AS it has been already re-
marked, there are duties and obIiga-
tions placed on all persons who are
honored by their countrymen. We who
are here are proud of the honor and
trust entrusted and I fully realize in
casting my vote that there will be a
diversity of opinion regarding the ac-
ton of every member of this body; an
opinion as to whether he has voted
right or wrong. But, as it has been
suggested, we have reached the point
when this duty, as we see it individ-
ually, is incumbent upon us; so l now
take the privilege of casting my vote
on the momentous question for the
Hon. Joseph l.. Rawlins-
Senator Chambers simply voted for
Joseph l.. Rawlins without comment
THE POPITT IST SEN ATOP