The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-01-15
APOSTLE smooT's VICTORY.

THE EXPECTED has happened and
L Apostle Reed Smoot has been NOM
mated as Republican senator from
Utah, his election to follow as a mat
ter Of form next week. For that mat
ter, his election was a foregone con-
clusion the moment he announced his
candidacy last summer, and those Re
publicans here and in Washington who
thought to influence the result through
an expression of presidential displeas-
ure al the eleventh hour might have
saved themselves the trouble of inter-
fering
Logically, Smoot has had the best of
the argument ever since the day of
election. II his party associates
thought il unwise to send him to the
senate they should have said so when
he announced his candidacy, and they
should have opposed his nominees in
the legislative conventions. Having ac-
cepted his legislative candidates and
welcomed his assistance in the cam
paign. they could not well plead his
ineligibility when he claimed the fruit
of his apostolic activity in behalf Of
the ticket.
It will be nearly a year before Mr.
Smoot has to present his credentials
and while this may give his opponents
time to organize a campaign against
his admission to the senate, it also
gives him time to prepare the way for
his acceptance. He ought to be able
10 show the administration the ex-
pediency of welcoming a man who has
his ability to swing the votes of Utah;
and it is quite possible, though not
probable, that the president and Chair
man Hanna may reconsider their ex-
pressed opinion as to the unwisdom of
electing him to the senate
Locally. the chief interest in the cpl
sode centers now on the future rela-
tions OF Smoot and Kearns. and the
effect il will have on Kearns' political
career two years from now. To date,
the apostle has had things pretty much
his own way. but Koarns will be in a
better position to fight at the capital
than he has been here at home. There
he has unquestionable power with the
administration; he is a first class fight
er himself and he is on cordial terms
with all the u,-mbers of the Republican
national committee. His enemies here
who have begun congratulating them
selves on what they choose to view as
a defeat for the junior senator may be
premature in their rejoicing.
In any event, the Republicans of the
state who howled so vociferously for
senator 'in harmony with the pres
ident,' and urged the voters to get
in line" with the administration, have
repudiated that campaign cry in
Shoots election and Will have an op-
portunity to see how the Reputation
programme works when Smoot reaches
the front door of the senate.
AS for the Democrats of Utah. the
Harmony plan so far has worked to
their exceeding satisfaction.
Defeated largely through Shoots in
fluence, they are shedding no tears
oyer the dilemma in which Smoot and
his party find themselves now.
Declaring that Smoot had no bust
ress in politics so long as he held his
church Office, they have found their
views eorroborated by a president of
Shoots own political faith
Predicting an unfortunate agitation
abroad if Smoot were elected. they have
found notification in advance of his
election.
Not one objection did the Democracy
make TO the apostles candidacy which
has not found substantial support in
the ranks of his own party leaders.
Poetic justice could ask no finer ex-
ample than has been furnished by
smoot and his party in this state in
the very hour Of triumph to which
they had looked forward so exultantly.