| OCR Text |
Show FALL 2013 UHQ pp 304-385_UHQ Stories/pp.4-68 9/16/13 1:25 PM Page 315 WILLIAM GLASMANN Utah came from old Mormon Democrats who owed natural allegiance to the conservative Democratic Party going back to the days of Stephen A. Douglas.36 However, Glasmann always considered himself a Republican, even though he supported Bryan because of the silver issue. The 1900 election saw Bryan go down in defeat again to McKinley, who had a new running mate, Theodore Roosevelt. Utah went to McKinley in 1900 by a narrow margin (47,139 to 45,006). The leaders of the Utah Republican Party acknowledged that they needed Glasmann’s help to win with the liberal Republicans of Weber County, and he gave it freely, not because of what he stood to gain, but because he had already announced his reasons for abandoning silver. But why did Glasmann abandon William Jennings Bryan? Again, Glasmann answered with his global analysis of silver, and concluded: As the silver question was the only reason why I supported Bryan, it will readily be seen that no sensible man that has studied the money question can this year support Bryan on the silver issue, and that is the only issue before the people this year, although Bryan and the Democracy are trying to keep silver in the back ground, well knowing that if the question is fully discussed this year their defeat will become greater than in 1896.37 The 1900 election was important for Glasmann, but not to the point that he abandoned his liberal attitudes. On the eve of the election, Glasmann—who ran as a candidate for the Utah State Legislature— published an article in the Standard championing the progressive strategy of initiative.38 The measure allowed citizens to initiate legislation on their own by following a certain procedure passed with Glasmann’s endorsement. This stance, however, proved immaterial to his chances of winning in his district in northern Utah. Still, with unsuccessful bids to become a representative at the state and federal levels behind him, Glasmann finally won election to the Utah State Legislature by a convincing margin. His subsequent election as Speaker of the House followed this victory. As Speaker, Glasmann led Utah Republicans in the House in an agenda that featured even more liberal ideals. When he assumed the duties as speaker, Glasmann exercised parliamentary control of the house to the best of his ability. He also introduced several bills, many that died in committee or that other lawmakers rejected outright, presumably because of his liberal stance. They included bills to make voting easier, prevent the removal of voters from voting lists, and establish irrigation districts and dams. Glasmann’s most important accomplishment was likely a bill that passed, closing tax loopholes for 36 Cannon and O’Higgins, Under the Prophet in Utah, 117–18. “Why Glasmann Left Bryan,” Ogden Standard, November 5, 1900. Glasmann argued that if the United States adopted a bimetallic system, India and Great Britain would follow suit. 38 “Direct Legislation!” Ogden Standard, October 31, 1900. Sherman S. Smith, an Ogdenite and the only Populist in the Third Legislature, sponsored the measure. Though the constitutional amendment passed in the general election, Utah conservatives prevented enabling legislation for sixteen years. 37 315 |
