The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-10-15
Editorial Comment.

comenting on this the NewaSays edi-
toriaiiy:
To the foregoing card from Presi-
dent Milford Woodruff, the News needs
but 10 add a word of explanation.
Since the general priesthood meeting
in the Assembly hall on Monday, Oc-
tober z political circles have been dis
turbed to an extraordinary extent by
the reports of certain remarks alleged
to have been made there as to the du-
ty Of the men who hold high ecclesias-
teal positions consulting with those
who preside over them before accepting
calls Of a public or even private nature
which would interfere with the per-
Torrance Of their duties. The reports
circulated as to what was said have
been in many instances greatly dis
torted. as is always the case; and even
where they were correctly given they
have been seized upon by politicians on
both sides and improperly construed
The injury in political sense has been
fwo-fold: 1t has caused hot-tempered
Democrats to assume that the church
vas opposed to the election OF some of
1heir candidates, when as matter of
fact neither candidates nor narties
were mentioned or intended: on the
other hand it has caused impetuous
and unwise Republicans to assume
that thelI party and candidates had un-
eXpectedly received a strong endorse
ment, and that the First Presidency
had manifested its desire for their sIo-
cess.
Now. the News is in position once
more TO say, in all conscientiousness
ana truth, that there was no intention
10 lnfluence any man present or else
where in the exercise of his suffrage
The speakers whose remarks have been
so extensively referred to had no desire
to favor either side or ca Ididate. or to
convey any impression Of preference
Tor or opposition to any man or partv
TO church members and officials in
their relationship 90 the church and the
duties Of their calling, the presidency
claim the right to give counsel and adj
vice. This right implies the authority
20 critlclze or approve. And this right.
ana TINS only. was intended TO be eyer
cised on the occasion spoken Of. II is
accordingly unfair and untrue Ia ac
cuse the church with interfering in poli-
ties, or desiring to defeat any one or
TWO candidates or to elect any others.
The church desires now as ever that
each voter shall use his ballot in free
>dom and intelligence-it would NOT If
~ could, restrain any one in the eyer
else OF the utmost Independence in all
political affairs. Whoever iD7Dronerl1-
CONSTITUTES anything said or done al the
9neellng referred to-nO matter which
side said improper construction comes
>1ToIl-ls therefore not only unjust to
The church and its leaders. bu+ ia +oa
candidates themselves. the parties the
people, and the whole state in ali its
hopes and prospects President Wood
RUNS own words appear above; no man
VINO reads them and knows him. viii
Tor a moment doubt the absolute truth
OF the statements he makes and the /
commend them to the attention of the |
people Of Utah. to the END that unwise
and incorporate conduct and ntter- /
ances may cease. and that the activitv /
OF the parties and their candidates MAJ /
not be further disturbed by an alleged I
menace for which there is no founda-
ton in fact.
- Joseph #. Smiths Statement.
In its local columns the News pub