The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-01-13
SUTHERLAND.

- erldnd has been nominated for the
United States senatorship by the Re
publican legislative caucus, without
opposition, and within a week the eau
Gus choice Will be ratified by the leg.
1sIature- In the natural elation fol-
lowing his selection, Mr.. Sutherland
made a speech, and in his speech he
paid himself a tribute which deserves
comment. In the two years fight 1
made for this position he declared.
and I made it in the open, there has
been no subterfUge, no money spent
improperly, no millionaire, no corpora
ton back Of it. I say and say it with
no egotism, there has been nothing
back of it but the great common. peo-
PIE of the state
1t is well to have a clear understand
ing of the forces which contribute to a
mans political pre-eminence in a case
like this in order to follow his actions
as representative of a state in the
senate and understand the course he
is likely 20 take.
Doubtless Mr. Sutherland believes
that there was nothing back of his
candidacy but the great common peo-
pie of the state 1t is like his great.
why every candidate for nomination to
the legislature was asked to declare
himself for Sutherland before he could
expect 70 get the nomination in Repub-
an conventions. Possibly, too. that
accounts fer the fact that legislative
nominees were chosen largely by Sena-
tor Smoot in advance of the conven-
tions; and i'm all except very few
the nominees must support Sutherland.
In Salt Lake county. the only men who
refused TO pledge themselves in adj
vance were threatened with defeat if
they persisted i'm their independence,
and were only nominated because they
were too strong to be overcome.
The composition of the Republican
legislature in Utah at this session was,
therefore. determined long in advance
fby Reed Smoot, senator and apostle.
The senatorial choice OF these ReIub-
4 iican legislators was also determined
months ahead by Senator SmOot. and
It was known long ago that George
Sutherland was Mr.. Shoots candidate,
that no other candidate need apply,
and il any other did apply he would be
Mr. Sutherland has had no opposition
a any time since Smoot made known
his choice. so that Utah is probably the
only state in the nation where a United
States senatOTship has been deter
mined without competition of any sort.
Mr.. Sutherland very properly says
that 20 money was spent improperly in
his behalf. He might have added that
of money. properly or improperly. One
OF his advantages as a protege Of
Smoot has been the certainty that
Shoots power made the use of money
unnecessary and superhuous. IF Mr.
Sutherland had said that no influence
of any kind had been used improperly
in his behalf his statement might have
been open to debate. As it is he has
kept entirely within the limits of verac-
ity even to the extreme of economizing
the truth.
Still another important omission Of
fact will occur to those familiar with
the history Of Mr.. SntherIand's career.
In his speech he failed utterly to ex-
plain what reason he had for changing
the opinion he expressed two years ago
United States senate was a misfortune
for Utah. Events have justified his pes
simism then to the uttermost. Why
should he be willing now TO accept a
senatorship at the hands of the man
whose candidacy and election he char
acterized then as a disaster to the
state? Why should he not have ex-
planned TO his supporters his reason
for abandoning his convictions? Why
did he announce his purpose of fight
ing Smootism two years ago and then
accept political favor at the hands Of
the man he opposed2
These are pertinent questions because
Sutherland's attitude two years ago
was based confessedly on principle. If
he had founded his opposition on per
scnal grounds only a reversal now
would be applicable: as il Is. he has
left the inference that his convictions
have been sacrificed for seat in the
senate and the broad phylacteries of
his public Standardization hide nothing
OF the Pharisee who would be regard
ed as better than some others he might
mention.
whether Sutherland himself is con-
scious of the position i'm which he is
placed may be questioned. No one
would ever accuse him OF lacking in
self-esteem and it is quite helievable
that he views his election as a tri-
umph Of 1.-The great common people
But the political historian, familiar
with the record. viii be compelled to
believe that Sutherland the senator.
and Sutherland, the congressman who
fought Smoot on the broad ground of
high principle. differ no whit from
any other man who has paid more for
a high office than it is worth.
The Herald can has no possible voice
IN Republican affairs here. 1t is quite
content 70 let the Republican party