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Show THE SITUATION. The present-day political situation in the state of Utah has so many phases that to properly eliminate, classify or prognosticate is an impossibility. Unlike other sections of the country, politics in the state of Utah cannot properly be classified under the head of political lines alone. Starting with the old political parties, scrapping along the old lines ; along lines made sacred by use and abuse, the state of Utah is torn by contending political factions and feuds, which while not neces-sariy neces-sariy serious in their results; may prove extremely disastrous to hopes of individuals before the end comes in sight. The Democrats are, as usual, sanguine, hopeful and aspiring. Having included in their platform some years ago a plank to the effect that they were opposed to every union of church and state, they have fought along those lines. To-day they claim to present a united front, an invincible front that is going to carry the unwary opposition down to such defeat that the aforesaid opposition will look like a bucket of whitewash on the Milky Way before they are through with it. The main hopes of the Democrats are centered in Samuel New-house New-house for senator. In him they are pinning great faith, and they claim that with him as leader the result will be sure and absolute victory. vic-tory. It is known that the American party figures on capturing Salt Lake county in the forthcoming election. If they do it will give that party thirteen members of the Legislature from this county. They, and also the Democrats, expect that a number of counties in the state will go Democratic. Both the Americans and Democrats maintain that both parties will assemble votes enough to carry the Legislature. If this program goes through as expected, then Samuel Newhouse will be named by the joint parties as their choice for senator. Of the lesser offices, there has been little mention among the Democrats, either as to candidates or choice. It is assumed that those gentlemen who have "been in the habit, in years gone by, of responding re-sponding to their party's call when candidates were wanted, will not be averse to taking another chance, this view being greatly enhanced by the fact that the Democrats concede that this is going to be a Democratic Demo-cratic year. Local members of that party believe the time has come $ for Bryan to win. At any rate, seeing hope glimmering thusly in the fightto' win nZ0" takIng courage thereby and propose to The American Party has so many plans laid out that it is uncertain un-certain where their end is, or where the beginning ought to be. They are going to name an American-Democratic Salt Lake county ticket, to catch the Democratic members of their party on the Presidential ticket, and inadvertently, the local ticket. They will also have an American Republican county ticket, to catch the Republican national vote and a stra.ght American ticket state, judicial and .county. In addition they will name six delegates each to the Republican and Democratic national conventions. The members of the American Party claim that inasmuch as they have demonstrated strength ... enough to carry the largest city in the state, and as they expect to carry the largest county in the state next election, this fact indubitably proves that they are entitled to national recognition, for their members, mem-bers, while temporarily straying from the old parties in order to par-lake par-lake of a different kind of local fodder, yet in national politics they shall not be restricted in their representation. The Americans will, it is claimed, put up a state ticket. As to who will lead their forces is still a question. It is expected though, that Thomas Weir will try for gubernatorial honors while Ogden Hilcs will attempt to stampede the voters into line in his desire to go to Congress. The Republican party is going to have candidates. For a time C. E. Loose of Provo was conceded to be likely gubernatorial timber. But this hope became nil when it was announced that Marshal Spry was going to be a candidate for governor. Congressman Howell is announced as a candidate to succeed himself. So then the line-up of the Republicans would seem to be Smoot, senator; Spry, governor, and Howells, congressman. For the lesser offices there will be candidates galore. But the "insurgents" or independents, arc going to make some pumpkins out of something or other, or go back to the tall grass and learn how to grow alfalfa on a melon vine. They are going to start their fight in the Republican state convention which meets next month to name six delegates to the national convention. They are aiming for an unpledged convention, with a fighting chance for every mem-Ai mem-Ai l,cr tne Party- n tne fell they will go into the state convention A with a determination to name a set of men who will be agreeable to them, and who, they claim, will be more agreeable to the people than any names yet mentioned. In addition, the Young Men's Republican Club recently held a meeting at which new officers were chosen. The policy of the new club which was in former years the strongest auxiliary organization cf the Republican party in the city has not yet been outlined, but a perusal of the personnel of the officers discloses that it is chiefly made up of those who have been termed "insurgents." j Altogether the local political situation is a most complex one, but as all parties seem to be aiming at a point where the political game will not be played with any ecclesiastical strings attached to it, the assumption that the entire fuss and jumble will soon simmer down to a semblance of judgment and harmony in the relative parties again, seems to be a sound and sane one. Nationally, it is conceded that Taft will be the unanimous choice of the Utah Republican delegation, while Bryan will receive the Utah Democratic votes as a unit. Certain elements in the state in both parties would, if they could, break away from the choice named, but as popular sentiment seems to swing in favor of the candidates named, it is generally believed and 'as generally expected that both delegations will be instructed along ithe lines predicated above. |
