Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-28
UTAH STANDS FIRM
F0RLEAGUE;;G. 0.P.
FACES HARD FIGHT
Senator Smoot Likely to Be
Reelected Even If State
Goes for Gov. Cox.
BY N. O. MESSENGER.

BY N. O. MESSENGER.
SALT LAKE CITY, September Is
| When Utah. in 1912, played the part
of political Casabianca and stood
all else had fed. except Vermont, a
period of mortificatio set in, which
turned the state over to the demo-
Gratis. Wilson carried the heretofore
normally republican state by 10000
on the plea of he kept us out of
| war" and with the aid of progress
sive republicans. In 1918, in the Con-
gress elections. the democrats still
held their own. At this time they
are in power throughout the state.
All the republicans have is the United
States senatorship held by Senator
Smoot, who must face the voters for
reelection November 2. Indications
at this time point to the reelection
of Senator Smoot. for reasons herein
after stated.
Democrats Now in Lead.
There is chance to carry the state
for Harding, although surface indi-
cations would seem to show the demo-
Gratis to be in better position at this
time. Five weeks ahead of the cleo
ton, Utah is obsessed with the league
of nations. President Wilson i'm
planted the league deeply in the ultra
deliriousl sentiment of the people
who have a hatred of war. William
H. Taft, idol of the republicans. culti-
waited where the President had sown.
- Gov. Cox came along and added
nourishment. The Mormon Church a
year ago formally indorsed the league.
The democratic candidates., national,
state and county tickets, stand for the
league. Mr.. Taft is coming to the
the republican ticket. If he can con-
vince his friends who have followed
him heretofore that the league has a
chance for existence under Harding
and a republican administration he
may swing the old-time normal re-
publican vote back into line. The
way is open for him to do this. be-
cause the democratic management and
the Mormon Church do not demand a
league of nations without reserya-
tions. The democratic United States
senator, Wildam H. King, who sup
who, recently returning from visit
with Cox at Dayton. gave out state
ment saying that Gov. Cox would not
insist upon the covenant of the league
without change, may find himself in
unity with Taft on the general prin-
ciples of the league.
Intense Interest in League.
The republicans expect the widely
prevailing discomfort with the demo-
cratic administration to be reflected
in the vote in this state, if the people
can be educated away from blind fol-
lowing of the President on the league
of nations. They face the important
intrenched in power in the state. have
a splendid organization, and If the
church should decide to throw it's
power to the democratic national
ticket would have the added perfect
organization of the church:
will not go into politics as an organi-
zation. Be that as it may. the presi-.
dent of the church is democrat and
| is supporting the democratic state
| ticket with contributions. Several OF
the twelve apostles. the governing
| body of the church, are democrats
Yet it cannot be said that word has
| yet been passed down the rank and
! file of churchmen to support the ma
| tional democratic ticket.
Senator SmOOt's Chances Good.
| Senator Smoot's chances for re-elec-
I ton stand a littleapart from general
| political considerations, and the be-
! lief is that even if the state goes for
x,
For eighteen years he has been sup
| ported for the Senate. He is one OF
the twelve apostles and is second in
| line for succession to the presidency
! of the church. He delivers sermons
| in the temple Yesterday he took
up in the temple and espoused the
! church'S crusade against tobacco
which is impending as an issue.
He is a thoroughgoing churchman
| st every point and is in sympathy
! with the ruling powers of the eccle-
siastical body SO very potent in Utah
| The argument in behalf of Senator
Smoot which is being used power
| fully and is said to be appealing to
Utah people is this: If republican
and republican administration are put
| in power, Utah, in the person of SEN
ator Smoot. would have an influential
and powerful friend at court. While
| it would be offensive to say that the
7 church considers material things
Utah people tell me that the church
probably would be gratified to know
that one of it's high officers should
hold a position of prominence and in
| fuence in the councils of the nation
| 1t would offset, it is claimed, some
! of the prejudice aroused against the
church in the country at large in re:
| cent years. At any rate. Utah would
be, it is argued. on better parity witt
some other states lacking such ar
influential senator at Washington.
Sugar Case Is Factor.
Senator Smoots opponent is Repre-.
sensitive yelling. On the state ticket
two Mormons are running for gov
ernor, Charles X. Mabey. republican
and T. N Taylorfi democrat. So far az
church influence is concerned. il
would be fifty-fifty between the two
candidates 1t is not yet in evidence
how much effect the prosecution of tn,
Utah-Idaho Sugar Company for al
legged pro-teering in sugar will hav,
on politics. The democrats are try
ing to connect Smoot with the com
pany, but he is getting from under
very rapidly. He is not an officer
and only a small shareholder.
The church owns about ne-thirt
Interest in the company and Presiden
Heber ]. Grant, as representative o.
the church's interest, is director
But he voted against the increase IL
price at the directors meeting anf