Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 92, Number 166, 4 February 1897 — JOSEPH L. RAWLINS [ARTICLE]

JOSEPH L. RAWLINS

ELECTED UNITED STATES SENATOR FROH UTAH.

Close of One of the Most Exciting Political Contests Ever Held in That State.

SALT LAKE. Feb. 3.—Rawlins 82, Thatcher 2U, Henderson 1. Brown 1. This was the result of the fifty-third ballot of tin- Utah Legislature, which elected Joseph L. Rawlins to be United State Senator, and closed one of the most exciting political contests ever held in the State. -It was such a contest as could not have taken place in any other State, owing to the peculiar features which were brought into the contest. This was what might be called "church day" in the joint Assembly. Church talk was injected into the prodeedings so often and so persistently that several times the presiding officer had to call attention to the fact that it was a civil body, for the purpose of transacting State business. Consultations between Henderson and Rawlins men before the balloting this m .rning showed plainly that something important would take place, and the word was quickly passed around that it was to be a Rawlins day. On the first ballot Thatcher lost one vote, while Rawlins gained six from Henderson, putting him at the top of the list. A recess was then taken to 3 p. m., and when the assembly convened again over an hour was lost in efforts made by the Thatcher men trying to force an adjournment. When the balloting began nearly a fourth of the members took advantage of the latitude allowed for explaining their votes, and delivered political speeches in favor of their respective candidates. Nearly all of Thatcher's friends made open charges of church inlluence against their candidate, while his opponents were vehement in denial of such charges. Rideout made a vigorous speech in favor of absolute separation of church and State. He referred to a "block of five" votes that had been transferred by some unseen hand from Henderson to Rawlins, and said he expected to see more of that kind of work before the close of the ballot. He closed by saying that if under the conditions his candidate (Thatcher) should be defeated and should take his case into the United States Senate, he could not be blamed. Sloan, Chairman of the Democratic State Committee, one of Thatcher's leaders, made a ringing speech for his candidate. He said he had in his possession a letter written by a member of the Legislature, in which he had said that he recognized a higher authority than his duty to the State. Sloan served notice that if a United States Senator was elected by the vote of tha member he would contest his right to vote on the question. When the roll call was finished. Rawlins had 31 votes, or within one of election, while Thatcher had about 114. Several members changed to Thatcher from other candidates, until the vote was brought up to '_'!>. During the time the changes were going on the excitement was intense, and the applause from the members and galleries almost shook the j building. Calls were made for Representative Wilson to change and swell the Thatcher vote, but Without avail. Finally Representative Hansen, a Republican, who had Voted COT Goodwin. hinged to Rawlins, and his election was officially announced. Joseph Lafayette Rawlins is 4<i years >1 1. ami v% as 'n v n in Silt Lake County. Utah. He received part of his education in this city, graduating in the Indiana State University at Rloomington. He studied laW in this city, and was admitted to the bar in IST.". He has always been identified with the Democratic party of Ctah. and is an advocate jf the free coinage of silver. He was deoted to Congress as a delegate on the Democratic tick-1 in 1802, defeating Prank J. Cannon, but "Was defeated by P&anon in LBSM. He was a delegate to the last Democratic National Convention, and was a member of the Committee on Resolutions. He is at present a member of the law firm of Rawlins & Critchlow in this city.