The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-05
UTAH CLOSE AND DOUBTFUL.
GREAT CHANGE SINCE NATIONAL
ELECTION IN 1890.
six of the Delegates Who Attended
Republican Convention at phil
adeiphia which Nominated Me-

doubtful state this year, That is what
a correspondent OF the New York Even
Ing Post writes from this city. What
makes this difficult for outsiders TO UNI
derstand is the fact that in 1896 Mr. Bryan
received over 64.coo votes in the state.
compared with 1900 cast for Mckinley.
This gave the Democratic nominee a
larger percentage of the total vote than
he received in any other state in the
Union. Because OF the overwhelming sem
timent for the free coinage of silver the
opposition to Bryan broke down almost
entirely, and 1t was with the greatest diff
ficulty that even a skeleton Of McKin-
ley organization could be kept in the field.
In the regular Republican county con-
vention of this, Salt Lake. county pic
ture of Mr.. Mckinley was torn from the
stage by some of the delegates and
trampled under foot: and then COM
promise was effected by which neither
Bryan's nor McKinley's picture was to
appear in the convention hall.
To illustrate the radical change that has
taken place in the political sentiment OF
the state. it need only be said that OF the
six delegates who attended the Repubi.
can national convention at Philadelphia
and assisted In the unanimous nominal
ton of President Mckinley on a gold
platform, FIVE were radical Bryan men
four years ago: and one OF them, Thomas
kearns, the millionaire silver mine owner,
walked out of the st. Louis convention.
tearing his badge from his breast as he
did so. To emphasize the change that
had taken place in Republican sentiment,
0. ]. Salisbury was chosen national COM
mitteeman at Philadelphia. although four
years before he spurned the office, and
supported Bryan throughout the cam
paign. One of the national delegates this
year was Heber NJ. Wells, the governor
OF the state. who four years ago used tho
power of his office in the interests OF Mr.
Bryan's election.
A number OF influences have assisted in
bringing about this radical change. In
the first place, Utah is Republican state
normally. In 1895, when the first state
ticket was chosen, the Republicans swept
everything by majorities of about 1000.
The tremendous Democratic majority the
following year was the expression of a
desire for the free coinage of silver and
not an Endorsement of Democratic prin-
ciples in general In the next place the
state has been prosperous and has made
more progress in the three and half
years since President Mckinley was in
augurated than ever before in the history
of the community. This is almost wholly
due to the development OF Mines and Is
Independent of administration policies
but people In general take the facts as
they are, and do not analyze very closely
Still another reason for the change is to
be found in the fact that the high tariff
and bounty system of the Republican
party and the benefits to be derived there
from have had what appears on the sur
face TO be a very clear demonstration in
the wool and sugar Industries of the
state. The beauties Of the bounty system
were preached by the Mormon leaders for
many years. and Brigham Young made
many and determined efforts to build up
the silk industry here under this system.
He failed 10 establish the silk industry,
but he taught the people to look to the
general government for aid, and that is a
lesson they have never forgotten. A few
years ago the beet sugar industry was
started through the influence OF the Nor
mon church and with the aid of Uncle
Sam. 1t has proven 10 be very success
full, and the soil and climate OF Utah are
now conceded by experts TO be better
adapted TO the production of beet-sugar
than almost any other In the country.
The industry has been unusually pros
porous I'm recent years. and this fact Is
used as a strong argument in favor of
the Republican administration.
But ths best explanation for the drift
towards the party In power Is to be found
in the strong sentiment In the state In IA
vor of what Republicans call Expansion
and what Democrats call imperialism
In common with all other states on this
side OF the continent. Utah has bene-
fitted from the new trade opened up In
the West as result OF the war In
the Philippines. Utah IL a great pro-
Queer of wheat. II Is selling In the local
market now at 80 cents a bushel. simply
because there Is no outlet for the sur
plus. The farmers see their only hope
for better prices for this staple in q
greater trade between the Pacific coast
and the countries OF Asia Added to this
is the sentiment that our flag must not
come down In the Philippines, whether IL
is there by right OF otherwise. They won
their full share OF distinction there. and
many of them died in battle or from dis
ease. Many more OF them are still at
the front and no effort has
politicians TO appeal to the friends
OF these men TO hold that for
which they fought" % II Is adroitly put.
In this connection, i may be said that
there are many English people In Utah.
who are driven from the Democratic par
~ this year by its position with regard
10 the Bocr war. The Deseret News, the
official organ OF the Mormon church. IL
ouispoken In favor of the administra-
ton policy In the far East. and as thous-
andS OF Mormons still look 10 the church
for political leadership, this ono fact is
giving the Democrats more trouble than
all the other elements thst ars working
against them AT this time.
The Salt Lake Tribune. the only infiu-
entail Republican paper IN the state, the
U4per OF WIDEST Circulation bfl"ttD Den
ves ana the Coast, has deserted the cause
OF silver. II Is making a most bitter fight
upon Bryan. and openly advocating the
single gold standard and the reelection
81 President Mckinley. This j. the more
significant from the fact that for twenty
years the Tribune was considered the
ablest advocate % hmeallirm In the en-
tire tnter-znOuntain region. and IN ls5 ied
the fight for Bryan and silver, and
against rs own party and the gold stand
ard TIL. Influence Of the Tribune + dua
ID the fact that Z; has always led the
8ght against the Mormon church, and Il
supported under all circumstances by
verv large majority ~ the Gentiles ~ the
state rhe Republican party 81 Utah rs
made up af 80 per cent Eentiles and 70
usr cent Mormon. IN the Democratic
nar,v the fgures are reycrsedsa per
lent Mormon and - per cent Gentle.
nut while this IA true n - also true taat
EVERY high offlclal in the Mormon church
~ this time - a Republican
Another factor that - operating strong
IL Against the Democrats ~ their failure
fn siacf a United States senator, and the
,rnnfnls that grew out ~ what many
,rera convinced was a direct attempt 70
nrfre fhe legislature elected two years
40 The legislature was overwhelming
~ democratic iu both branches. but the
party leaders failed % secure a caucus on