The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-24
Senatorial Contests.
provo ENQUIRER

lProyo Enqulrer.)
Each senatorial contest in Utah
brings a fight peculiar to that contest.
The one his year has but few elements
similar to the fight two years ago.
While a very earnest fight is being
made, there does not appear to be so
much rancor in the breasts of OPP
ponents. So many candidates in the
race have given the fight much uncer-
tainty, with not so much fractional feel
ing as heretofore.
The Republicans cut more of a figure
than any minority party has hereto
ore done, from the fact that they are
quite unfettered. The Democratic
minority of the First legislature was
about of the same strength, but being
instructed in convention to vote for
Messrs. Thatcher and Rawlins, they
were practically eliminated from the
contest. Furthermore, the Repub-
licans were able to get together in
caucus and there settle their differ
enceS without expense to the public;
but the Democrats seem unable to de-
eide their differences in that economical
way, and the result is $500 expense on
the state each day that the contest is
dragged out in public voting.
This year the Republicans feel quite
free to act in the best interest Of the
state, as the opportunity is presented
to them in the course of the contest.
Some members, in fact, notably Law Of
Cache, feel under obligation to a Dem
cratic faction, which made their cleo
ton possible, and they are determined
not 10 vote for an administration Re-
publican. Their conduct, reprehensible
as it seems from a strictly Republican
standpoint, is having a d~emoralizing ef-
feet on the Republican caucus rule, but
the indications, nevertheless, are that
the Republicans will hold together,
with the exception of the two or three
of the class mentioned, and Will give
their votes only to Republicans.
There is much being heard about the
corrupt use of money in the fight, es-
pecially in favor of A. W. McCune. 1t
has been noticeable that there has been
no evidence forthcoming on hat score.
Numerous little traps have been set to
catch Mr.. McCune, in some such a way
as Clark of Montana was caught, but
so far the traps have been without re-
suit, except to benefit Mr.. McCune. One
vote is said to have been gained
through efforts of that kind on the part
of the rich mans opponents. But while
there is no direct use of money in
bribery, which we believe membCej of
the legislature to be above, the influ-
ence OF money is plainly being used in
another and perhaps quite legitimate
way. Men OF influence are on the
ground from all over the state, and eS-
pecially from southern counties, labor
ing hard with legislators. Those men
are not paying their own expense. and
working for the mere fun of the con-
test, but many are men who will likely
get financial favors in return, by means
of contracts or otherwise. in the section
of the country through which IN pro-
posed railroad is to run. But for a
man who has an income of perhaps a
hundred thousand dollars a month, as
Mr.. McCune is said to have, he is run
ming a very cheap campaign. With all
his money, he appears to be one of the
shrewd business men, for which Utah
is noted, and is making may friends
among men who never knew him be-
fore personally. lie seems to be in a
fair way of winning, Notwithstanding
the vigorous and determined fight
which many of the Democrats are max
ing against him.