The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-11
BUTTE News.
A POWER IN THE CHURCH
Vice President Cannon of Salt
Lake in Butte.
SILVER NOT AN ISSUE
Silver Republicans Are Going Back to
the Goldbugs His Opinion OF
Political Affairs in the State
of Utah.

George Q. Cannon of Salt Lake, vice
president and one of the most eminent
dignitaries of the Mormon church, was
in Butte yesterday, accompanied by his
wife and two sons, DIR. w. T. Cannon
and Sylvester Q. Cannon, AMI Judge
Young and Mr.. and Mrs. Crismon.
Judge Young and Mr.. Crismon are also
prominent in the Mormon church, and
the parties are on their way to AL
herta, B. c.. to visit the Mormon col
ony there, the church having consid-
cradle settlement al that place. Mr..
Cannon. his wife and sons have just
returned from a trip to New York, and
We're met at Ogden by the other men,
bers of the party. DR.. Cannon accom-
panied his father chiefly on account of
the latter's health. which had not been
good but which has improved much
since he left Salt Lake. about nine
weeks ago. The other son has just
graduated from the Massachusetts
School of Technology, and accompanied
the party for the purpose of observa-
ton.
George Q. Cannon has been prom
inent in the country for many years as
a leader of the Mormon church and as
delegate in congress from Utah some
years ago He is a well preserved old
man and a very pleasant gentleman to
meet. In Utah he is a power in the
church. and also in politics. notwith-
standing the fact that, during an in
terview a Standard reporter had with
him yesterday, he disclaimed any aC-
tive interest in the politics of his state.
L leave politics to others he said,
but sometimes they call on me as a
sort of reserve force"
Mr.. Cannon probably referred to the
eleventh hour effort made by his fol-
lowers in the Utah legislator to elect
him United States senator to succeed
his son, Frank Cannon, the present sem
ator from that state In speaking of
Utah politics. Mr. Cannon said the
straight republicans We're, Of course,
for Mckinley and approved his admin
istration and his conduct of the war in
the Philippines The silver republic
cans still maintain an independent or
ganiZation, but in the opinion of Mr..
Cannon they seem to be drifting back
into the old party, as they are doing
in Montana. Mr.. Cannon himself is a
Mckinley republican and recognized as
gold standard man, while his son,
Senator Cannon, is a very strong and
uncompromising silver republican.
1.-THE silver republicans Of Utah
said Mr.. Cannon yesterday, are dis
gusted with the democrats. They
SOUGHT 10 unite with the uenlOcTdlS III
the last legislature, but the democrats
rejected their offers and overtures and
regarded them as rivals. with the re-
, suit that the legislature failed to elect
senator. On my way East | travelled
with three very prominent silver re-
publicans from my state, one of whom
holds a state office. We talked about
the future of the silver republican
party and l asked him what his posi-
ton was. He did not commit himself.
but spoke for his two companions, and
said they would be found supporting
the straight republican ticket in the
next campaign. They are men who
have given their time and money to the
silver republicans, and their return to
the old party indicates to me the way
the silver republicans of Utah are 60
ing
Mr.. Cannon gave it as his opinion
that the silver sentiment was not as
strong in his state as it had formerly
heen, and that it would not be a lead
ing issue in the next presidential cam
paign. My own belief is, though |
must say it is not shared by many men
in my state. that silver. while it is not
dead, has ceased to be the paramount
issue in this country. 1t has been over
Swallowed by the question of expansion
and the war policy of this country. In
Utah the republicans support President
Mckinley and his policy. The silver
republicans are divided on the question
OF expansion and the democrats are
not entirely united
Mr.. Cannon was asked a few uues-
tons about the renewed anti-MOrmon
agitation, but it was evidently not
subject upon which he cared to talk.
1t is deplorable,' he said, and | re-
Eret it very much