The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-10-14
AS to Political Affairs.

But have you been likewise atten-
tive TO their wishes in political af-
fairs?"
Il think l have within proper linz
its. Several years ago-perhaps only
two years ago-it was stated that it
was thought wise for members of the
quorum of the Twelve. the first seven
presidents of. the Seventies presidents
| of the stakes and bishops not to take
active part in political affairs. in con
sequence of their ecclesiastical rela-
tons with the people. While there
were some things involved in such an
order that did not meet with my per-
sonal views. there were others in it
Which appealed to my Judgment and
on the whole I accepted it with pleas
ure. and looked upon it as the promul-
cation Of a general Church regulation,
Which both then and now, 1 think the
church authorities had perfect right
to issue; and if any church author
ity upon whom the general order had
effect did not like it, he had the al
tentative of resigning his position.
Il say on the whole my judgment
approved it, and hence, I accepted it.
But was somewhat surprised to find
soon after. what everyone knows to
be the case, that notwithstanding the
above order, one of the Twelve and
one Of the members Of the Council of
Seventy. to which I belonged, were
again actively engaged in politics. in
the interest of the Republican party;
and, indeed, such was the large num-
Der of the exceptions almost imme-
diately made to the general order. by
permitting men that were prohibited
by said order to accept nominations
and otherwise become active in poll
tics, that the exceptions we'll nigh de-
stroyed the force of the rule.
Interpretation of His Acts.
This was a source Of much annoy
ance to me, because individual Demo-
Gratis and delegations of Democrats
waited upon me and insisted that 1
should also take part in political af-
fairs, especially as one of the mem
beGs Of the council to which l belonged
was active; and l was plainly told
that my silence was construed into
meaning that was silenced by
the church leaders and that the apos-
ties in question and my fellow presi-
dent were sent out by the church, and
my silence on the one hand and their
activity on the other, was being ac-
cepted out in the settlements as an in
Gfcat:on that it was the wish of the
Presidency that the Republican party
should succeed. 1 remained true how
ever, to the order of the church and
took no part in political affairs, ex-
cept that at a gathering Of Democratic
societies at Saltair that met to rejoice
over the prospect of the passage of
the enabling act, 1 accepted an invita-
ton to be present and make few re-
marks-that I thought I could do with
out any improperly.
while L was absent from the terri
tory, either in August or September of
last year, the convention in Davis coun-
ty which assembled to nominate candi-
dates for the constitutional convention
nominated me as one of the delegates.
Upon returning to Utah, a few weeks
after that convention. I learned of my
nomination, and understood from re-
ports coming from a member of the
county convention that the general
rule before alluded to, had either been
utterly disregarded by the people, or