Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-06
MORMOyS GROW DESPERATE,
Greatly Alarmed BY tho Growth of
the Liberals.
AAoT CAMPAIGN lNAueuRATeD.
The Peoples Party" Already Drum
ming Up the Faithful in An"
ticipation of the FcbFu-
ary Election.


SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Oct. 7.--tSpeclal
to TuR BEE. The political struggle now
being inaugurated in Salt Lake City PROM
ises to become one Of the most exciting and
important ever transpiring in this inter
mountain country. For eastern readers to
fully understand the situation some explana-
tion is needed. Ever since the Mormons
settled Utah they have controlled the poll
tics almost exclusively. However, since the
coming of railways and the opening of
mines, the non-Mormons have been
seeking to gain political power,
and their efforts promise soon 10
bo crowned with victory. Formerly all
non-Mormon citizens were known as
"Gentiles,n while those withdrawing from
the Norman church were classcd as "Apos-
tates.n The term "church'' as used by all
people outside of Utah is supposed TO apply
10 religious denominations engaging In dovo-
tional exercises anu looking after tho spir-
itual interests of its members, In Mormon
ism it is really misnomer since the avn Of
the organization Is so intensely for political
power, rather than for the spiritual welfare
OF the people. The "chur CHI in the past has
dictated who should hold tho territorial,
county ami municipal public Off ces and after
their election they have been compelled to
conduct tho affairs of their Offices in con
formity with the wishes of tho "Priost
hoods
The reader may want TO know who
are the priesthood. AT the head of
Mormonlsm three Is president with
his two counsellors and twelve apostles.
Then come presidents of stakes, bishops,
seventies, elders, teucners and long list OF
officers all under the direction of the presl-
dent, his couusellors and the apostles. Ihe
thousands of minor officers, all seeking pro-
motion into more lucrative positions, give
great strength to the organization, while
they are very active in collecting from the
rank and file the sinews of war in the form
of tithing aud other contributions. This
system has been so we'll organized and con.
Quoted as to enable the leaders or cnief
men to learn just how faithful every
member of the church" is toward 1t, and in
case of any signs of apostacy or weakening
IN the faith, To mete out such punishment as
will make them more loyal to them.
Twenty years ago the destiny or every
person in Utah was held in the hands of the
then great ruler, Brigham Young, president,
prophet, seer and revelutor of the church.
Then only few such men as the Walker
brothers, w. II. Lawrence, w. S, Godby aud
some others--had the courage to dispute the
authority of Brigham Young, but with light
breaking over the valley in the form of east
ern and western men coming here to as
sert their rights, gradual change was made
for the better. For Il score of years brave
men and women have been striving to put
down polygamy. the vulnerable point for at
tack on Mormonism, in the hope that with
tho downfall of that relic of barbaric tunes
would come, also, the downfall of ecclesias-
teal and political power of the church.
Some years ago the anti-Mormons-'Gen
tiles" and Aposties"-organized the liberal
party. and have ever since been fighting
under that name. The Mormons. under their
guise of not being political machine, and
claiming not to unite church and state, chose
for their side the name of "apostle party"
1t is true that the people are permitted to go
through the form of holding conventions to
nominate candidates for office, aud are then
expected to vote for them, but it is neverthe-
less true that these nominations are simply
the "sustainlng' of the dictations of the
chiefs. Utah, as a territory, is decidedly
Mormon, but the liberals have made such in
roads on their ranks as promise soon to
change this In q large number of counties.
Summit county is already in the center of
the liberal party, and its chief town, Park
City, has liberal city government.
Last February tho city of Ogden,
the second largest city in Utah,
elected full liberal municipal
ticket. Next February Salt Lake City will
elect liberal city directory, providing the
colonization of Nlormons does not defeat 1t.
This city mas always been considered the