The Governors of Utah: Arthur L. Thomas

IMPROVEMENT ERA. Vol. IV. SEPTEMBER, 1901. No 11.

THE GOVERNORS OF UTAH.

ARTHUR L. THOMAS.

Arthur L. Thomas, the fourteenth governor of Utah, and for many years its secretary, was born in Chicago, Illinois, August 22, 1851, and was the son of Henry J. and Eleanor L. Thomas. On February 6, 1873, he was married to Helena H. Reinburg, and with her came to Utah in April, 1879, just after his appointment by President Rutherford B. Hayes to the office of secretary of the territory. He remained in this position for eight years, being reappointed by President Chester A. Arthur, in 1883, serving until April, 1887, a longer period than any other secretary in the history of the territory. In addition to his office as secretary, he held simultaneously other important positions. Thus, in 1880, he was appointed supervisor of the tenth census for Utah; in 1881, special agent of the government to collect the statistics of schools and churches; and in 1884, by the legislature, one of four com- missioners to compile the laws of Utah. In 1888, he became a director of the Deseret Agricultural and Manufacturing Society.

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During the legislative session of 1882, except for five days, he was the acting governor, which was also the case during half the ses- sion of 1884; in December, 1886, he succeeded A. S. Paddock as a member of the Utah Commission, the latter having been elected senator from the state of Nebraska. It was in April, 1889, that President Benjamin Harrison tendered Arthur L. Thomas the governorship of Utah, which he accepted. He qualified on May 6 following, holding that position until May 4, 1893, when he was succeeded by Caleb W. West. The leading historical events which took place during his ad- ministration were of great importance to the commonwealth in the development of its political, religious and business affairs. The status of Church property was decided upon by the Supreme Court; early in 1890, Salt Lake City passed from the People's to the Liberal party, a condition which already existed in Ogden; in September of this year. President Woodruff issued a manifesto suspending plural marriage; in 1891, the People's party was dis- solved and its members united with the national parties Re|)ub- — licans and Democrats; this resulted, during the year following, in the termination of the short and not very desirable rule of the Liberal party, and in its death, and paved the way for statehood, which cut short the administration of the last territorial governor —Hon. Caleb W. West. Concerning the character and labors of Governor Thomas, the following is reprinted from the Deseret News of May 4, 1893, the date of his retirement from office:

For Arthur L. Thomas, the outgoing executive, this paper has no words but those of good will and friendship now, albeit at times we have had to differ with him most radically as to some of his official acts, and have had to criticize some of his measures of policy. But we have ever sought to judge of his work in a spirit which prompts us to recog- nize differences of attitude and education, and no words have been spoken against him because of such differences or for any personal rea- son. We realize that he has occupied a peculiar and in most circum- stances trying position; but that he has always sought the best interests of the territory as he understood them, and the ultimate welfare of all her people, we firmly believe. Hence, carping criticism and villification qave neither been indulged in nor upheld in others. It speaks well for