Salt Lake Telegram | 1934-06-09 | Page 7 | Strains of 'Utah, We Love e' Recall Statehood Celebration

STRAINS OF UTAH WE LOVE THEE RECALL STATEHOOD CELEBRATION I t L I f I S i I t 1 t J 1 f I 4 I I k i 4 A 74 4 4 By JACK THOMAS S Utah We Love Thee Strains of that song recall to hundreds hundreds hun hun- of persons the occasion of its first rendition the inauguration of ot M. M Wells as first governor of ot Utah The admission day celebrations of Arizona California and Nevada have no counterpart in Utah so to the younger generation the date January 6 6 1896 holds little significance To those old enough to have attended attended at at- attended tended the Inaugural ceremonies 38 years ago however the date will never be forgotten On January 4 President Grover Cleveland had is issued is is- issued sued his proclamation making Utah the forty fifth state and Salt Lake City ity was vas crowded with visitors Jubilant jubilant lant that the long fight tIght for statehood was over Since 1849 effort after effort ef cf- cf fort Cort had met with failure so ro success was doubly sweet Confusion Relent Reigns Perhaps never before or since has the ta tabernacle been the scene of such confusion contusion as occurred a n few moments before the inauguration The ceremonies were scheduled to begin at noon following a cannon salute in early morning and a parade through the business district at 11 a. a m. m REVISITING SALT LAKE Long before the parade started however crowds crowd of early comers corners were waiting to be admitted to the tabernacle The section filled rapidly leaving only the seats reserved for those marching in inthe inthe inthe the parade Larger and larger grew rew the waiting crowd held back by harried ushers A surging movement broke in one of the tabernacle doors and the restless men and women swarmed in overrunning overrunning over over- running the ushers Within 40 seconds seconds-a seconds seconds-a a real speed record the record the seats eats were filled and new arrivals had swelled the standing stand stand- ing fag crowd until it seemed no smaller than before Huge Flat Flag Displayed Crowning feature of ot the tabernacle decorations in honor of the occasion was a huge American flag feet long and 75 feet wide one of the largest ever made The huge standard standard stand stand- ard hun hung in front of the organ its forty fifth star blazing with ek electric lights One thousand children waving flags sang The Star-Spangled Star Banner Banner Ban Ban- ner nerO after George Q Cannon of the first presidency of the L. L D D. S. S church offe oe d the invocation Representative c Joseph L L. Rawlins read the presidents president's proclamation admitting admitting admitting ad ad- Utah to the Union and presented pre pre- Governor Go Wells the pen with which President Cleveland had signed the bill blU making Utah a state Charles C C. Richards acting governor governor gover gover- oyer nor of the territory surrendered the public office oHice to the state and Justice Charles S. S Zane who had previously pre been sworn in gave the oath of office to Governor Wells and his associates James T. T Hammond secretary of state A. A C. C Bishop attorney general Morgan Richards Jr auditor and James Chipman treasurer Sing Sine Utah Song Song It was then the tabernacle choir sang Utah We Love Thee which had hOld been composed for the occasion by Professor Evan Stephens choir leader In his inaugural address Governor Wells outlined the history of Utah's efforts to become a state cited the resources of the re region ion and pleaded for continued patriotism on the past of the people The Rev T. T C. C C C. Iliff of or the Methodist Meth Meth- odist church gave the benediction and the assembled thousands disbanded to the strains of oC Hail HajJ Columbia The legislature met in special session session ses ses- ses- ses sion slon two hours later and the serious business of running a a new state wi was wa under wa way i