The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-12-27
SNOOT GETTING
HIS MACHINE IN
WORKING ORDER
Provo Senator Spends Busy
Day Laying Out Program for
Next Legislature.
THREE CANDIDATES ARE
OUT FOR SPEAKERSHIP
BESIDES RE-ELECTING SMOOT,
SoLoNS HAVE IMPORTANT
WORK IN STORE.

The eighth Utah legislature will con-
vene on Jan. II, just two weeks from
tomorrow. Already the clans are be-
ginning to gather. United States SEN
ator Reed Smoot was I'm Salt Lake yes
terday and spent very busy day talk
ing to members of the Salt Lake dele
cation and laying out a program for
the legislators. Yesterday afternoon ne
had conference with Governor-eIect
William Spry.
The latter has now settled down in
real earnest to prepare for entrance
into the governorship. His newly APP
pointed private secretary, John X.
Hardy, arrived from San Francisco anc
Immediately entered upon his duties.
The new governor will continue to oc-
cupy part of the United States mar
shaPs office until Jan. 4, when Gov
ernor Cutler will vacate the officiaf
quarters in the city and county build
ing, and the entire new administration
will assume control of the affairs OF
the state.
The legislature will have much work
cut out for it and the session of sixty
days will be none too long if all the
matters are considered that are on the
tapis. The formality of re-electing
Reed Smoot TO the United States SEN
ate will be gone through in the early
days of the session, and, of course VIII
take up but small part of the time
of the legislators.
Fight for speakership.
For the speakership and for chair
manships of committees some lively
contests are expected. The fight for
the speakership will be geographical in
Its nature. 1t will be. as matters now
stand, between the north and the south,
with Salt Lake as the battle ground
The southern legislators are strong ror
Orville Thompson of Willard county,
and those from the north are present.
ing the claims OF Ed w. Robinson with
equal ardor.
Brigham Clegg of Salt Lake is can
didate. but is not considered to nave
the slightest chance. as he cannot
carry his own county delegation
Though there seems to be little
chance of electing a Salt Lake man,
the members from this county win
nevertheless hold the balance OF power.
As Senator Smoot owns the Salt Lake
members, he WILL if he so desires, name
the speaker.
The fight for the presidency Of the
senate is also three-coTnered. but does
not seem TO attract the same attention
as the speakership of the lower house.
Two candidates from Utah county are
in the field, Henry Gardner and John
Y. Smith. and Senator William N VIII
liams of Salt Lake is mentioned for the
position Benner " Smith of Salt Lake
would be chosen if he cared TO accept,
but it is stated that he has declined to
allow his name to be brought forward.
Failing the speakership. Brigham
CleSg wants to be chairman of the Ju-
dietary committee, which he held In
the last legislature. He did not make
a brilliant record at the former session,
and his chances for this session are not
good. L. L. Baker of Tooele county,
who was county clerk of that county
until his election to the legislature. Is
most prominently spoken OF for this
position.
May Have Contest.
T. L. Holman OF Bingham, one of the
Salt Lake county legislators. may have
a fight on his hands to hold his seat IN
the house. He had admittedly not re-
sided in the state for three years, as
the law requires, and as he has been
somewhat vigorous and outspoken IN
Continued on Page 2.