Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-10-24
MORMON and POLITICS
The Elders o1rie Church are OPP
posed TO Democratic
Candidates.
SUSPENDED FROM CHURCH
The Church IL Supreme and Will
Control the First State
Legislature.

. secret meeting Of the priesthood of
the Mormon church Hon. Thomas
Thatcher and e. H. Roberts were disci-
plined for participating in politics with
out permission of the church authori-
ties. Thatcher is q candidate for the
senate and Roberts is for the house Of
representatives. just why these two
gentlemen we're singled out for disci-
pline while there are other church Of
acials on both tickets is something
which democratic politicians say they
do not understand. They cite the
fact that Joseph F. Smith, one of the
counsellors to the first presidency,
openly advocated and urged the cleo
ton Of the republican licked last year,
and that Apostle John Henry Smith
was member and president Of the
constitutional convention to which no
exception was made by church officials.
The democratic party has been waging
a vigorous campaign with the claim
that their chance as against the
church influence would be next to
hopeless. Republicans claim that in
the last campaign republican church
officials who took an active part in
politics had the permission of the
church to do so, whereas in the present
case such permission was neither
sought nor granted.
Judge Powers, chairman of the dem
ocratic committee in a published inter-
view says:
"If w. find our efforts are to be
thwarted, our money wasted, our VIC
tory surrsptitously taken from us I
shall advise the state committee to
give me authority to call a convention
of the democrats Of Utah, giving that
convention power to consider the pro-
priety of taking the democratic ticket
out Of the field and disbanding the
democratic party and advising the
voters of Utah to vote down the con-
stitution snd vote in favor of q terri
torial form of government until we are
certain all our people from the highest
to the lowest will be free to act politi-
callv as the judgements and their con-
sciences dictate. Every man in Utah
must have the very fullest freedom of
political action and no ecclesiastical
authority can be allowed in any degree
to NEEDLE with our political affairs
Chairman Cannon of the republican
state central committee when seen
said SO far as church influence is con-
cerned, he had heard nothing of it.
He said indications pointed strongly
to q republican victory and he believed
the rumor was subterfuge of demo-
Gratis who feel they are lost and want
an excuse for falling.
The Argus, republican paper says:
"Much as the Argus desires republican
victory, we nevertheless say here open
ly that we prefer defeat by all means,
rather than that the victory we might
obtain should be stained with sus-
picion of Mormon church control or
dictation."
The Herald, q leading democratic
paper says: ut is better, now that
this issue has been raised that it be
settled before Utah becomes state
than to meet it when statehood be-
comes reality"
Chairman Powers said this evening
q meeting of the territorial committee
had been called for next Monday to
discuss political matters and it might
result in calling another democratic
convention for the purpose Of issuing
q declaration Of independence to the
people Of Utah.
Most Of the leading Mormons are
out Of the city and their views can not
be obtained.