The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-05-21

To The salt Lake Herald:

HN MEiA ll-fAtf t--AetA- -------
divided among them is bearing fruit
after its own kind. and a strange con-
ditiOn Of the public mind is evidenced
thereby. We have Apostle SmoOt Of
Provo announcing his own candidacy
for the United States senate 10 succeed
Joseph T. Rawlins. 1t is conceded that
his sole title to the position. after adj
hitting his Republicanism, is the fact
that ne IS a Mormon, and that Mormons
are entitled TO one of the senatorships
trom Utah This argument involves an
obvious division Of the people Of this
state into two classes. and, Tor existing
political ends, these are religious
classes, or one religious class against
other religious classes combined with
non-religiOus class. 10 must be clear
that this sort of reasoning argues that
any excuse is sufficient. If IL seems 10
justify the results. But. if the division
OF the people into two classes is Justi-
liable for political ends. why not have
a division into rich and poor classes,
and let some poor man go 70 the senate
as an Offset TO Capitalist Kearns2 Or,
why not divide the state between farm
ers and other classes, selecting
farmer to succeed Senator Rawlius, and
accepting Thomas Kearns as a fitting
representative of al the other classes2
The suggestion made by an evening
paper that a woman be chosen to MI
the place of Mr. RaWlins is clearly
within the logic that hacks the justin
cation for choosing a Mormon to Offset
the Gentle elected two years ago.
Women constitute a fair half Of the
voting population OF this state.
Then We have to face the profound
reasoning behind the declaration that
the senat0rship should go TO Provo. be-
cause Salt Lake is the home Of Raw
Inns Kearns and Sutherland. BY the
same token ogden and the population
north of Salt Lake should be favored
with the habitation 0f one Of our ma
uonal representatives.
II there be any virtue in the argu-
ment that the successor to Senator
J. L. Rawiins should represent class
Of people now said to be without repre-
sentation, then let US make il a purely
political division. and send Democrat
to hold down the Republican Kearns
and the Republican Sutherland. The
statement that Mormons are now with
out any representation argues that no
Mormon is q Republican. IL also argues
that instead Of conducting campaigns
in this state as between Democrats and
Republicans, they should be fought as
between Mormons and Gentiles, since a
division Of political places Is generally
conceded as the proper thing to have
accomplished.
While this thought is occupying pub
lie attention. 1t occurs to inquire to
which class Postmaster Thomas, United
States Marshal Haywood, District At
torney Lippman and our Egyptian
judge Of the court Of the first. second
or third instance ". G. Van Horn, are
to be accredited? II is true we have
Smith of the surveyor generals office
and Callister as an internal revenue
collector, who are Mormons, but as six
positions are named, it is really a ques-
ton Of moment as to whether Thorn
as. Haywood. Lippman or Van Horn is
the Latter-day Saint, so that our fed
eral representation may be divided fair
~ on a religious basis. These can be
easily CLASSIFIED on other than religious
grounds as: Oficeholder, Thomas; Cow
boy and BrOncho Buster, Haywood;
Partner of o. W. Powers, Lippman;
Solo Card Player Van Horn. The poll
ticians Of this state demand that one
Of these four declare himself q Mormon.
sc that the logic and eternal fitness Of
things political IN this state may not
seem to be awTy
II is significant that in al the utter
ances regarding the personal or public
character OF the person 10 succeed Sen
ator J. J.. RawilBs there has been no
word as 10 fitness or qualification, and
IL were patriot, instead Of a poll
tician who believes that any old aTgu-
ment is good ehohgh. If it but win out,
] would point with shame to the fact
that Utah seems TO be the only state
where the aspirant for Office is not re-
! quired to be qualified Intellectually for
the position he seeks. l am also forget
/ ting that the suggestion might offend
some already IN office aad as We are
/ for peace at any price. I desire it to be
I remembered that nothing has been said
upon the subject of mental fitness.
/ DEPRESSING from this phase Of the all
/ absorbing question. / should like to
/ call attention to an injustice done
Apostle Smoot in your editorial refer
i ence to the announcement of his candi-
/ dacY. The Herald takes him TO task,
/ The record is too recent for anyone
even remotely familiar With political
/ conditions in Utah to forget the pro-
nunciamento Of the Mormon authorities
! against oh1ce-seeking by any Of its
| higher members without first having
secured the consent Of the church lead
ers. Beyond the peradventure Of any
doubt, Apostle Smoot has received the
| sanction Of the presidency OF the Nor
| mon church to make the race, and what
that assent is worth every person who
remembers how many Mormon Demo
| cratic members Of q Utah legislature
voted for Republican George @. Cannon
| should be qualified 20 appreciate. Ger
tainly Apostle SmOot, as a citizen, has
a right to aspire to the position Of
/ United States senator from this state
However limited a mans capacity fol
the place TO which ne aspires. there il
no limit to a mans self-esteem, once
he turns his assurance loose and i
starts with a dOwn-hill pull.
II there be any right for criticism
of Apostle Shoots candidacy, ii SHOULD
be against the church whose. represent
alive he certainly win be If ne is elect
ed, and not against the man. / thinl
The Herald knows this, and il is neithe
fair TO an ambitious young man WIZ
has tasted place without a suficien
balance Of modesty, nor just to it
readers when it taciuy excuses tn
church leaders by putting the blam
on APOSTLE Smoot The Herald know
that SmOot would no more think o
running in opposition 10 the wishes o
, his church leaders than he would thin
of cutting off one Of his hands or pluck
, ing out an eye.
Let US be just. and If there be an.
danger TO the public in Apostle Smoot'
| candidacy, TX the blame for the pro
r posed danger where il belongs.