The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-03-16
CHURCH INFLUENCE AT LOGAN.

On two or three occasions during the late
municipal campaign in Logan. THE HERALD
referred to improper influences being en-
ployed in the interest of the Republicans.
BY improper Influences we mean
church influences The information
came IN such q direct manner as
10 almost convince that it was correct,
but the matter was of such. Importance
That we did not want to make the positive
charge until the possibility of doubt had
been removed, and there could not follow
a successful denial of the allegation. The
lntimatlons and hints have since been veri-
he'd, and to-day it is well known in Logan,
where It is the subject of common talk tn at
certain men, some of them occupying official
positions in the Mormon church. told voters
IN that city that IL was the desire OF the
church authorities that Logan should be
carried by the Republicans. Several days
before tie election Mr.. GEORGE F. GIBBS
the we'll known clerk and stenographer in
the Office of the First Presidency,
went TO Logan and labored in
castriously in the Republican cause,
quietly informing citizens that the
Presidency wanted Logan to go Repubh-
can because it would have a good effect on
Congress by conveying the impression that
the Mormon people were about eqally di-
vided between the national parties We
don't know what authority Mr. GIBBS had
Tor making these statements, or that he had
any; but we do know that he made them,
and that they had an effect upon the minds
n -b0 l,i,,Iy
that the church has the right to direct in
political IS well as in religious matters. 1t
was the fact that Mr.. GIBBS went from the
presidents Office which gave him influence.
! We also now know beyond the possibility
OF denial that another man who employed
| his influence as churchman and an eccle-
| siastic official on the side of the Republi-
can party, is Mr.. THOMAS X. SMITH, bishop
of the Fourth ward, whose partisan utter
ances and personal solicitations were such
as to call forth protests and denunciations
from the moro manly men approached by
him, although undoubtedly carried with
him some who stood in awe of his priestly
authority and were lacking in the indepen-
dence and manhood which should accom-
pany American citizenship
There were others who also employed
the church influence instead of argument
to get votes, appealing to mems regard for
their religious leaders rather than to their
reason. Among those whom we will name
to-day are Mr.. CHARLES w. NIBLEY, sort
of blatherskite who for years has been fig
uring in politics in Idaho and Wyoming,
sometimes as a Democrat, but this year as
Republican; and Mr.. JOEL KICKS, a
loud ,mouthed fanatic who knows about as
much regarding the principles of the par
ties as he does of the language of the pig
mics of interior Africa. He assumed that
he was Republican, and like Mr.. NIBLEY,
| only more openly-the last named being of
the smooth and cunning breed of dema-
g. .e-he went about telling men that the
high church officials were interested in
Republican victory in Logan.
BY such methods and such men was the
Democratic majority of last August turned
into Republican majority this month, for
it is fact which canvass of the citizens
to-day will show that there are more Demo
cratic than Republican voters in Logan
city.
As remarked, The HERALD does not
know upon what authority these mer used
the names and Offices of the leaders of the
church; we hope it was without authority,
and that the men scandalized the church
officials and falsifed professions and de-
clarations on their own responsibility. If
they did not then they should ask those
who sent and directed them to come to the
front and accept the blame for stultifying
the record and bringing upon the
church the shame and disgrace of debating
in politics after having proclaimed an abso-
Lutte separation of church and state. If
NIBLET, SMITH, RIcKs GIBBS and others,
have permitted their party zeal to lead
them into placing their spiritual leaders in
this attitude of falsehood, deceit and polit-
ical trickery, ought those men to escape
discipline in the churchl
THE HERALD has said and it repeats it,
that the Mormon and other churches must
keep out of politics in this territory, or it
VIII go badly with them.