The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-01-01
SOlONS TO SOON
GATHER IN ZION
Seventh Biennial Session OF
Utah Legislature Convenes
in Two Weeks.
HARRY JOSEPH LEADS IN
RACE FOR SPEAkERSHIP
Wesley K. Walton Aspires to
Be President of the
Senate.


Utah Legislature will convene in Salt
Lake two weeks from today. II will
be session controlled absolutely by
the church Republican party, which is
name synonomous with that OF the
Smoot machine. Every member of the
State Senate will be a church Repubh..
can, and, out of forty-one members OF
the Lower House, all but seven Will be
tions will be church Democrats.
Present indications are that Harry
s. Joseph. Representatlve-elect from
Salt Lake county, has been selected by
the Smoot leaders for the Speakershlp
Of the Lower House. He is being tout
er candidates with any apparent
strength are in sight. Unless there is
change OF programme he will prob
ably be elected. Others who have
been mentioned for the Speakership
include C. f. Marks of Salt Lake and
Rudolph Kuchler of Ogden. but they
have no considerable following.
John Q. Critchlow OF Salt Lake coun.
ty, who was at one time candidate
for the Speakership, has dropped out
of the race. and is now striving hard
for the chairmanship of the railroad
committee
For the chairma nship of the Judiciary
cbnHlbLtt l0t CtuuIuuIts ntullpucR
Harry j. Robinson OF Bingham, c. E.
Marks of Salt Lake and Brigham
Clegg of Salt Lake All are young law
yers, the shortage OF old and seasoned
members of the bar in the House, be
ing noticeable feature. All those
mentioned for this place so far are
from Salt Lake county. the county
where the prospective Speaker halls
from.
Rudolph Kuchler of Ogden. who has
had previous legislative experience,
and who is expected TO take a leading
part in legislative matters this winter,
will probably be given good commit
table for the fact that it contains few
veteran legislators, and those who, like
Mr., Kuchler, have found their way
back and who are at least on friendly
terms with the Smoot machine, will
doubtless get good committee places.
Senator Wesley X. Walton, who rep
resents Rich, Morgan and Davis coun-
ties in the State Senate. but who lives
in Salt Lake county as much as any
where else, aspires to be president of
the Senate, and is making active can
vass for the position The fact that
the prospective Speaker of the House,
Mr.. Joseph. is q n-Mormon-Mr 1o-
seph does not claim to be a GENTLE
may aid Senator Walton to some ex-
tent in his fight At the same time
Mr.. Walton has. it is alleged, played
more or less fast and loose with the
Smoot and Wells factions of the church
Republican, and neither crowd is ex.
actly sure of him.
There IS talk that Senator s. n.
Love OF Salt Lake county, who presided
over the last Senate, may be a candi~
aate again; also that Senator George n.
Lawrence of this county may aspire to
the place, Senator Love is a Mormon
and Senator Lawrence is a Gentle.
They are warm friends. however, and
Senator Love may step out of Senator
Lawrence s way because the latter sup
ported him year ago. Up until the
ast campaign, however, Senator Law
renee was personally distasteful TO
Apostle Reed Smoot, who, in the last
analysis, will name the presiding Off
GERS OF both Houses Senator Law
renee S friends hope however. that his
abject repentance of his former mis-
deeds In the last campaign, and his
ardent support of the Smoot machine,
may cause the apostolic Senator to for
give him and permit him to be made a
resident of the Senate, especially If he
promises to be good.
The coming Legislature is the only
one since Statehood which has not been
charged with the duty of electing a
United States Senator, The first ses-
sion, which convened in 1896, and which
cDutdlItu d hepuDllcIU majority, eject
ed Arthur Brown and Frank j. Cannon
to the Senate. The second, which met
year later, chose Joseph l.. Rawlins
to succeed Arthur Brown. The third
session, assembled in 1899. was to have
chosen successor TO Frank j. Can
non, but there was a deadlock through
ont the session, and nobody was elected
The fourth Legislature, which met in
1901. chose Thomas Kcarns Apostle
Smoot was elected in 1903 TO succeed
j. L. Rawlins, and George Sutherland
was named in 1908 TO succeed Thomas
Kearns. Senator Smoot s term will not
expire for two years, unless he is sooner
ousted from the Senate, and Senator
Sutherland s term will expire in 1911
In the absence Of a Senatorial fight
it seems probable that the chief contest
OF the session will come over the sub
mission of the proposed constitutional
amendment providing for the consolida
Lake and the State Agricultural college
ss Logan. The last Legislature provid
ed for the appointment by the Governo,
of commission to investigate the ad
visibility of consolidation. That com
mission made public its report las
summer. A majority Of its members
reported in favor Of Consolidation, Will,
minority reported against IT. Thi
matter has already caused one bite
fight in the Legislature, and the cominf
session is likely to see 1t waged NOR,
bitterly than ever, The advocates O.
both plans are preparing to fight t,
the last ditch.
There may be proposition advance,
to create a sinking fund for the erec
tion of a State capitol building, anc
undoubtedly the members from the var
ious sections of the State will hav
various bills of private nature /
advance; but, outside of the Stat
school consolidation matter, the out
look is for a tame session.
Of course, should Reed Smoot b
ousted from the Senate before the Leg
islature adjourns the duty of electin
his successor will devolve upon tn
members. Colonel Ed Loose Of Pro
says. however. that in such an even
Apostle Smoot would be reelected in
mediately, and. if such is the case, tn
SenatnrIal electinn pvnuld hn n 10, u,