The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-09-24
HANDICAP UPON
4UTAH AND OREGON
Both States Are Without Influence
in Congress.
THEIR GROWTH RETARDED
SMoOT CASE LIKELY TO DRAG
ALONG.
THEIR GROWTH RETARDED
Especial to The HeraldD


lkI AsHINGTON, D. c, Sept. 25.-
w Oregon and Utah will be badly
HANDICAPPED in the fifty-ninth
congress by reason of the unsettled
condition of their respective congress
sional delegations.
An eastern state can struggle along
for a long time without representa-
tives in congress and suffer no great
inconvenience. Delaware. for instance,
lost nothing by being without senators
Tor several years. Almost all IF the
needs of eastern states which can be
obtained from the fedeS-il government
have long since been supplied. Fed
eral patronage in the way of appoint
ments can be looked after by state com
mittees if there are no senators; in
fact the inertia OF a century carries
the state along nearly as we'll without
congressional representation as witch
it.
Different Out West.
But it is different with the newer
western states. 1t is necessary, even
vital, that a western state have its
congressional representation. both in
!, the senate and house of representa-
Aives. filled and unimpaired every mo-
meGt of the time. Western states have
mary needs, which in the eastern states
have long since been provided for, and
IL requires the unremitting efforts OF a
Nirile, active delegation TO get them.
The growing cities of western states
need federal buildings; the great areas
OF arid land require the attention of the
reclamation service: forest lands are
20 be gregated and created into re-
serves; Indian reserves are to be opened
10 settlement; the rivers and harbo:s
or the Pacific coast states require ap-
propriatiOns for Improvement. and all
of these needs and countless others are
incident to great. growing strength,
energy and effectiveness of the delega-
ton which rS~Sesents the state in con-
gress.
Oregon and Utah Handicapped.
Oregon and Utah. as stated. are in a
bad way when their needs and the stu
alton in reference 10 their delegations
are considered. Oregon. of course, is in
bad shape. Her senior senator, pending
final action by the courts in his case.
will be debarred by an unWritten law
OF the senate from participating in its
deliberations and. in fact, will be al
most completely useless to his state IN
connection with all government affairs.
His influence in the depa tments is
gone, and so far as being a help to his
state is concerned, his unfortunate pO-
sition on the contrary, makes him an
injury TO Il. The two members of the
house from Oregon are almost as un-
fortunately situated as the senior SEN
atOr. Their influence and prestige is
discounted and, pending the legal pro-
ceedings ia their cases, necessarily they
can be of no service TO their state.
Fulton New Man.
The burden of representing Oregon,
therefore, rests uDOn the shoulders of
Senator Charles W. Fulton the only
member of the delegation against whom
no charges made, or no indictments
found. Senator Fulton is capable and
hard working. He has made an excel
lent impression tn the senate, and in
other branches of the government serv-
Ice. and, under ordinary circumstances.
would accomplish much for his cOnstit-'
uents. But now he is hampered and
handicapped by the blight which has
been fastened upon the Oregon delega-
ton. and the odds against him in the
coming congress viii be, il is. feared, too
great for him 10 overcome.
Explosion Came Too Late.
1t IS fortunate for Oregon that the
criminal charges against three mem
bers of its delegation were not made
public until after the appropriation was
secured for the Lewis and Clark fair
That great project would not have been
provided for If the Oregon delegation
had been crippled as IL now is, when
the bill was pending. If Oregon ex-
poets to draw anything i'm the coming
congressional game of the F'ifty-ninth
congress. it must either provide for UNI
smirched representatives to take the
place Of those now under fire. or
strengthen the hands of its one I'M
scathed member, Senator Fulton.
Smoot Without Influence.
Utah. too. will be in an unfortunate
position in the Fifty-ninth congress
The fight against Senator Smoot which
has interfeTed with his power 10 help
his state ever since the day he was
sworn i'm as a senator, will be renewed
with Intensity when the next session
begins. An early termination of the
fight is not expected. There VIII be
committee reports, long debates. longer
delays. and the case, il is believed. will
drag along at least through the entire
first session OF the Fifty-ninth con-
gress, if not longer During all OF this
time when Senator SmO0t viii be under
fire his influence and power 10 help his
state and his constituents Will be in
great degree neutTaliZed and impaired
by the uncertainty of his tenure of
Office
Sutherland Shares the Odium.
In like manner the efforts OF his col
league, Senator Sutherland. viii be
handicapped by reason Of the widely
spread charge that he owes his place 10
exactly the same influences that placed
Smoot in the senate The Mormon
church is on trial. and, perhaps wrong
fully, Senator Sutherland shares i'm 4
degree with Senator Smoot the cdium
of the charge Of being the choice nf a
church which, to speak mildly. does NOT
commend itself in its practices To the
American people. The Utah member
of the house. Mr.. Howell comes within
the same category, for he Is member
of the Mormon church, although not
connected with its government.
In the face of these conditions. the
question Is frequently asked i'm Wash
ington as to how long Oregon and Utah
will continue TO stand by their delega>
hs