New-York tribune., 1920-10-27
Utah i'm Doubt
Until Ballots
Are Counted
Local Conditions Make Trend
of Sentiment Uncertain
and Attitude of Mormon
Church Is Not Yet Clear
Smoot Has a Hard Fight
Republicans Feel Confident
That Both Harding and
Senator Will Garry State
From q Special Correspondent

From Special Cores Spondcrt
SALT LAKE CITY. Oct. 26.--Un-
biasscd political observers have listed
Utah this year as doubtful state, and
as Utah leaders Of both the great
parties insist that they arc certain of
success, it probably will remain in the
doubtful column until the ballots are
counted
A bitter campaign is ending through
out the state, and because of peculiar
local conditions the situation is inter-
esting.
To begin with, Utah is one of the
few states in which there is domi-
nant church. A little more than so
per cent Of its inhabitants are Nor
from other churches in that it is hon
estly and frankly in business. AS a
result every word spoken by holders
of high offices in that church is
scanned closely by political leaders in
an effort to attach to it some political
signticance-so effort to influence
the vote of the rank and file.
Another point is chat Utah's senior
Senator is Reed Smoot, an apostle of
the church, a veteran member of the
Senate and one who has frequently
member of the Senatorial oligarchy.
Senator Smoot is candidate for
reelection. Opposing him is Milton
H. yelling, now member of Con-
gress, elected on the Democratic ticket.
Smoot an Expert on Finance
In the Senate the senior Utah SEN
ator is known as the watchdog of the
Treasury He is generally considered
an expert on government finance and
points with pardonable pride to his
money by pairing down or eliminating
appropriations.
Senator Smooot would have preferred
to make his campaign solely on eco
nomic issues, quoting figures to show
that the Dem ocratic Administration has
wasted the public funds and pointing
out inequalities in the revenue laws
and the Federal Reserve Bank act But
the fates ruled otherwise, and the
League of Nations prcempted the CEN
ter of the stage.
Before The draft of the Versailles
covenant was completed former Presi-
try urging the formation Of league of
nations. In Salt Lake City he spoke
from the platform of the Tabernacle.
Heber j. Grant, president of the Nor
mon Church, presided. Following the
address by Mr.. Taft vote was taken.
the result of which was announced by
President Grant as 5000 for and
against" the proposal to establish a
league.
Senator Smoot is reservationist,
anG when he returned home to launch
his campaign for reelection he found
his opponents shouting up and down
40 rt.fo tl,o+ l,o
harmony with his church, and pointing
to the Taft meeting in the Tabernacle
as proving that the Church stood SOL
idly behind the Wilson league. Repre-
sentative yelling and other Demo-
cratic speakers called on the Utah
voters to vote for Cox and the Demo-
cratic ticket because, they contended,
the Church had declared for the League
cf Nations.
Mormon Leader Quoted
Senator Smoot thereupon took the
stump and began quoting from a
Christmas message of greeting by the
first president of the Church, published
IN he Christmas number Of the official
Church paper, in which the Church au-
thocitles declared clearly against anv
resignation Of national rights or pre-
negatives in the effort to bring about
through the League of Nations cessa-
tion Of wars.
His opponents answered in their
campaign paper by accusing him Of
failure to quote a portion of the
Christmas message. The Senator in his
next address quoted the portion he was
accused of con ealing and has continued
to do so in all his campaign speeches.
The people of Utah have shown clear
ly that they are in favor Of a league
Of nations. Whether they favor the
covenant in its present form or desire
reservations will not be known for
sure until the ballots are counted.
In 1912 Utah was one Of two states
carried by Taft, but in 1914 the Pro
gressivc movement struck the state.
The Progrcssives fused with the Demo
Gratis and won several counties. In
1916 the fusionists carried the state,
elected a complete Democratic state
administration, two Democratic Repre-
scntatlves and sent William H. King.
Democrat, to the United States Sen
ate. Senator Smoot had been re-
elected two years before by small
majority. In 1918 the Democrats con-
tinued to win most of the counties.
although there was no state election,
ana the Republlcan party entered the
present campaign III an effort to win
back position it has not occupied in
state affairs for six years.
Four years ago the Democratic ma
jority was $4,000 in state which has
total vote of but 100000, so if the
Republican ticket is to win this year
there must be a turnover tremendous
in comparison with the total vote.
Republicans Claim State
Republicans are confident, however,
that Harding Will carry the state and
mat Smoot Will be reelected They
contend that the Progressive voters are