The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-03
WHERE THE PINCH IS.

| Pueblo Chleftaln makes showing or
the huge area of the States west of
the Missouri river; twelve States and
Territories which have total area of
l,452,S square miles. It admits that
the population OF this vast area is
comparatively light per square mile, and
it adds:
II is true beyond question that tho density
| of population ought to be considered in fixing
| tho apportonmcnt Of tho upper house. But
il is certainly unjust that one-haf OF the area.
| without regard 10 its future possibilities or
| Increased population. should be permanently
| restricted 10 one-fourth the memherhsip Of
| the Senate; and when it comes TO a PROPOSE
ton 10 reduce that representation below one
| fourth OF the membership OF the senate,
the plan is so rsnky unjust that il ought not
| 70 receive a moments consideration from any
| fair minded person.
Now, general comparisons between
the States west Of the Missouri river
and the other States of the Union will
| have little effect either in Arizona or
| New Mexico as to the vote of their
electors upon the question OF State
hood. That vote will be determined
with practical unanimity upon local con-
siderations. The voter in Arizona who
opposes joint Statehood will not oppose
it because of any proposition which af-
fects tho representation of the region
west of the Missouri. river in the United
States Senate; but he will oppose 1t
because he does not want to be joined
with New Mexico on any terms or for
any purpose.
Neither will the argument with re-
spect to the injustice of limiting one
| half nf fhn ITO a.
in the Senate on an unconstitutional
concession that "the density Of popu
lation ought to be considered in fixing
the apportionment of the Upper House,
have any effect, for, first of all. it is
not in the least true. The question
was never raised by Massachusetts
against Rhode Island, by New York
against Vermont, or by Pennsylvania
against Delaware. 1t is o question that
has been raised in the East solely
! against Western States. Tt is not a
| proposition that Western States OF
| Western writers should in the least con-
cede. The fact is that population has
| nothing at all to do with representa-
ton in the United States Senate. Iu
that body the States are represented as
such, without the lenst regard to their
population; and this Is Justly so, and
must always remain so In our Govern
mept, because it cannot he changed ex-
cept by the consent of all the States
and this consent would be quite i'm
possible to obtain,
In New Mexico. no doubt, tine vote
will be overwhelmingly for joint State
hood, Whether it will be for it in
Arizona will depend a good deal on
some obscure circumstances which as
yet have been but little considered in
the country at large. We have seen
no reference whatever 10 the main
point in any paper except this. The
point we have in mind is this: The
vote Of Arizona is very largely COM
posed of Mormons; those Mormons will
not vote with the Gentiles Of Arizona
against Statehood if they receive a
whisper from the church headquarters
in this city that they are expected to
vote for Statehood. Polygamlsts in
Arizona are in a tremble every time
there is any mention made of any project
or purpose to punish polygamists. Not
long ago, it will be remembered, a
showing was made in the United States
Senate Of the number of polygamists
who are Giving their religion" in |
Arizona. In some counties prosecu-
tions have been begun against those
living in unlawful cohabitation.
The fear OF prosecution OF polyg-
amists and the actual beginning of |
prosecutions against those living in I'M
lawful cobabitation are both extreme
lv obnoxious to the ruling hierarch in |
Salt Lake. This hierarch, of course, has |
complete control of the Mormon vote in
Arizona All he has to do is 10 signify |
his desire that in order that the Saints
in Arizona who arc living their relig- |
ion or who expect to live more Of it |
from time TO time shall be fully pro-
tected, the Mormon voters there must |
vote for Statehood; aud those Mormon
voters would be glad to make the HE
rarch s will their pleasure.
Within the protection of Statehood |
there would be no fear Of any such |
prosecutions any more than there is |
fear of them in Utah. No elective !
officer in Arizona would dare to begin |
such prosecutions, any moro than he !
dares bring them in Utah No elective !
judiciary in Arizona, any more than
in Utah, would dare TO face such Of !
Tenders arraigned in court, and ad
minister to them the law as the stern
and righteous judge should do. Any
prosecuting officer who should institute
such proceedings in Arizona would be
put under the ecclesiastical ban, and
would never more hold office in that
State, any more than such officers who
would dare to institute such proceed
ings in Utah could ever hope to fill the