The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-12-03
ODD POLITICS
0JT N UIAa
MormonS Turn in and Beat All
the Democrats,
WANT A MORMON SENATOR
Told Thier Followers 1t Was
a Divine Command.

Salt Lake City Nov. 2s-,speeial to the
New York world)-Unleas the unexpected
happens. Reed smoot, the youngest of
the Twelve apostles Of the Mormon
church. win be the successor TO United
tsates Senator Joseph l. 12awlins, whose
term Of once win expire on March /
next
East Of the Rocky Mountains the i'm
preston prevails, that Utah went Repub-
lean at the last election. Members CT
that political organization have congrat-
ulated members here upon the TACT that
the state which gave Bryan 51.oJ9 major
itv in 1885 has again been redeemed and
taken her place in the Republican col
urnn. But titan did not so Republican;
Utah went Mormon.
The people Of Utah voted as they did,
not because they believe in tariff for
protection or in the gold standard-for
they do not, or in the retention Of The
Philippine Islands or the restriction Of
the trusts. but for the sole reason that
the church authorities desired that Apos-
tie Smoot be sent to the senate.
The Mormons made a clean sweep Of
It, too From Cache county, on the north,
10 Kane county on the south; from Uin-
tab, on the east 10 Death Canyon on
the west they carried everything. C0un-
ties which have been regarded as rock
riDoed IN their Democracy changed polit-
zeal complexion in single night, dad
men who would have waSered all on their
chances OF success, awoke the morning
after the ballots were cast to find them
selves defeated
The change was easily affected in the
Mormon counties The presidents the
ward bishops. the counseuors. the teach
ers and the home missionaries all fell
into line. with the result that thousands
of members OF the church changed their
political beliefs and voted as the Lord
directed"
Nor was this all. So smoothly did the
plan work that in Salt Lake county, a
Gentle stronghold, where the non-Mor-
mons hold the power; IN Weber county
where the outsiders are very strong; in
Summit county where Mormons are few.
the GentHes were shut out almost COM
pletelv. and Mormons were sent to the
legislature.
There are sixty-three members in both
houses Of the legislature. eighteen state
senators and forty-five members of the
lower house. Of the former six are Cen
tiles. The house has the same number.
The Saints have an Overwhelmingly
large majority. and can do exactly as
they please when it comes to electing a
T~DffoT CFo+a1 Crro+rr u oo~,,l,fr, Ion
of Gentle Republicans with Democratic
Mormons can defeat the plans of the
church leaders.
This condition of affairs is due in part
70 q bargain made by the church author
files two years ago. when Thomas Kearns
a mining magnate. was sent to the SEN
ate. 1t was openly charged by Judge
Goodwin then editor of the Salt Lake
Tribune that Kearns made a money bar
gain with then then President of the Nor
mon church, Lorenzo Snow, since de-
ceased and this allegation has never been
denied. Smoot. Who had just been "set
apart" a the Apostle, was party to
the scheme which landed Kearns in the
senate and the latter is said to have
agreed TO repay him by assisting him to
succeed Rawlins. Kearns kept his word
In salt Lake county he presented a slate
to the convention which was nominated
on the first ballot, although there were
efforts TO break st.
But as time passed on and the cleo
non approached there were murmurs Of
dissatisfaction among the Gentle Repub-
lcans. They did not like the idea Of
voting for men that would send to the
Senate a member Of the church in such
high standing as Smoot. This dissatis-
faction spread especially in Salt Lake
Weber and Summit and thousands Of
lifelong Republicans announced their in
tention of voting the Democratic ticket
to prevent what they termed calamity.
This was brought 10 the attention Of
John Henry Smith. better known as the
''Whispering Apostle. 1t is John Henry
who carries the word of the Lord" un-
der the title of the wish of the authori-
ties" or the desire Of the brethren to
lay members when occasion Of moment
arises. John Henry appealed TO the Pres
idencv. He Informed it of the great. Cen
tile slump and told it that II something
were not done the state would so Demo
cratic and Brother Smoot would be de-
feated.
Something was done. Although there
were excellent chances for the Demo
orats TO carr ythe three counties men
toned which under ordinary circum-
stances would mean Democratic victory
and the recollection of Rawiins. so excel
lently did the church authorities work
that despite the fact that ia Salt Lake
county at least 2.01o Gentle Republicans