The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-10-22
THE CONVENTION TODAY.


dates for Office and formulate a
platform of party principles. 1t is an
extraordinary assembling of earnest
men, representing the people in every
county and precinct who protest
against the interference of the church
in the affairs of the state.
We are aware, and so are they, that
the incident which has brought about
this convention, of itself and taken
alone, is insufficient to arouse the
excitement which has agitated the ter
rFtory for the past two weeks. 1t was
but the match which has fired in
fammable material that has been ac-
cumulating for about five years.
Whatever opinions may prevail as
to the attitude of the Presidency of
the Mormon Church in relation to poll
itics, it is beyond truthful dispute that
persons claiming to know the mind of
those ''authorities' have been en-
gagged at important times during that
period, in the business of making Re-
publicans under the plea that they
were acting under direction or with the
consent of those dfgnitaries.
Not only have Mormon voters who
had Joined neither political party been
persuaded to vote the Republican
ticket, on the plea that it would be
pleasing to the First Presidency, but
Democrats have been asked by
brother Democrats, on the same plea,
to vote the Republican ticket, if only
Gust for this once" To deny this is
to dispute facts so notorious that one
might as we'll declare there is no Re-
publican party.
It was fondIy hoped and firmly be-
neved by many Democrats that all
that was at an end, and that this year
each party would be left to work out
its own salvation or failure. uninf1u-
enced by the tactics of church
officials. The limitations of a leading
politician about grapevine messages"
and the hints that certain Democratic
candidates were not in favor with the
church authorities. were not consid-
cred of any great moment until the
castigation of two Democratic NOM
inees occurred in a meeting of the
priesthood. That was the spark that
set the smouldering embers into a
fame.
II brought about the present crisis
One has but to converse with Repub-
licans or Democrats who are fair and
sincere, to become assured that the
situation is grave. If that is insult
ficient for some they need but to read
the comments of the leading public
journals in the east and the west, to
establish the point beyond doubt.
The question of the present fitness of
Utah for statehood has to be confront
ed. If it is true that the influence of
any church is to sway a considerable
number of the voters OF Utah as to
the casting of their ballots and the
support of "a political party. hosts of
men on both sides of the fence will
unite in saying that statehood ought
to be deferred, and in a determined
effort to have it postponed until that
influence shall cease to be exercised
in politics.
If on the other hand it can be made
to appear satisfactorily that this is
not the case, no citizen will be more
earnest and diligent in promoting
statehood and full liberty for Utah
than the Democratic party. which has
been the means of procuring that boon
after the Republican party had per-
emptorily refused it for many years.
The convention today was necessi-
tated by the gravity of the situation,
and the intense feeling of hostility to
those underhand influences by church
officials which appeared TO be encour-
aged by the condemnation passed
upon two Democrats on the occasion
referred to. 1t was felt that the time
had come to put a stop to that species
of interference, or to enter a protest
that would be understood by all con-
cerned.
Utah must go into the Union. if at
all, as a free state, untrammeled by
the bonds and exempt from the domi-
nation of any church institution. The
election in November must be free
expression of the will of the citizens.
unswayed by priestly influence in
either direction, or it will not be an
American election.
The Democratic party will today take
a decided stand on these vital issues,
and therefore it's Importance should
not be underestimate. We do not
look for any violent demonstrations or
Incorporate declarations. We expect
that wisdom and 'firmness with mod
GRAFTON" will govern the assembly
And we expect such a conclusion as