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Show FOR THE STATE'S SAKE. We have stated our preference for Governor Wells rather than Mr. John Cutler for nominee for Governor, because we have understood and believe it to be true that Mr. Cutler never thought " df beipg a candidate until he was named for the ' place by Apostle'Reed Smoot. We Jiave l)jjlcl that Mr. Smoot has a right, in strong measure, to be consulted afc to nominations by virtue q his ofllce as one of Utah's United States Senators. Admitting that he is entitled to all the authority which that high ofllce carries, still any man of Utah would be blind to for a moment imagine that it is on his senatorial prestige and power that he is dictating who shall, and who shall not, be candidates. can-didates. ' He was elected Senator, not because of any striking qualifications which he possesses for the place. He is indebted solely to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for the honors that wer thrust upon him; thousands of voters supported sup-ported the Legislative ticket which was pledged to elect him, not because of his fitness for the place, not for any reason except that he was an Apostle, and they would have done the same had he professed to be a Democratic, or Socialist, or Prohibition candidate; it is the interest of that same church which prompts him to name candidates candi-dates and that ls a shameful perversion of free institutions, a defiance of our form 1 f Government and a covert but effeotive violation of that clause df the Constitution of our country which forbids any union of Church and State, to say nothing of making the State, as Apostle Smoot intends, a mere creature of a Church. Necessarily, too, should Mr. Cutler be nominated nomi-nated and elected, he would understand where his first fealty would be supposed to be due and would act accordingly. He would be vastly more the servant ser-vant of the Church than of the people; hence, as between a candidate so involved and any capable arid Independent man, we are for the other man. Governor Wells has held his ofllce since the admission of the State. In his public office" ho has made no mistake that we can Tecall that has been an injury to the State. In every emergency, in the running down of robbers, and murderers, in the raising of Utah's contingent for the Spanish war; in the 'sustaining and vetoing of legislative enactments he has done well. As" between him and any man who will owe his nomination, if he receives it, to the power behind Mr. Chi1" q most certainly has our sympathy and $ idipjJDUafi vweare able to lend him. It is n& gj sonal or in any ordinary sense a politico, yxfl tion. The honor of the State and the a $ rights of the people are involved in the noi xt tion. tggr v |
