Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-10-17
MORMON POLITICS
ABOUT THE LATEST AFFAIR.
INHERENT RIGHTS OF MEN
Religion Does Not Require One to
Give Up His Politics Several
Members Of the Church Candidates
for High Office-EXecutive Com
mittee Meetings.

Salt Lake, Oct. 1.-THE Tribune
has received a written statement
from MILFORD Woodruff, president of
the Mormon church, concerning the
recent priesthood meeting. 1t is ad-
dressed ito whom it may concern"
President Woodruff says: ''There
has been so much written and said
concerning the priesthood meeting
held on Oct { that l feel it my duty
to make statement concerning it.
7 consider It the right of every man,
woman and child on earth 20 enjoy
their religion, let that religion be
what it may, for that is between
themselves aud their Creator. SO [
say with regard to politics. Every
man has a right to enjoy his political
belief unmolested. There is not
democrat in Utah who can truthfully
say l ever asked him to vote repub
ican ticket. Neither can any repub-
lican say that l ever asked him to
vote a democratic ticket. \ part Of
my own family are republicans and
part are democrats. Concerning the
meeting referred to there was not,
according to my recollection, one
word said about democrats, republic
ans or politics. When the church of
Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints
was organized it was with the holy
priesthood in it's various orders and
quorums no man was counted at lib
erty from the organiza ton of the
church to engage in any branch Of
business, politics or anything else to
take him entirely away from his call
ing, business, duty or responsibility,
without first counseling with the
mission to do so. This course does
not require a man to give up his posi-
tiOn in the democratic party or the
republican party. Several democrat IS
have called on me since this cam
paign commenced. Among them was
my friend, John 7. Cain, saving he
had been nominated for governor. l
said: Go ahead; l think you will
make a good governor l think SO
still. Every man has a right to with
draw from his quorum or the church
if he wishes. If he remains in the
quorum or the church, we think he
should be subject to the same rules
we are ourselves
The trouble is that even high
priests have become candidates for
office without consulting President
Woodruff and his two counselors.
George Q. Cannon and Joseph F.
Smith. Moses Thatcher, one of the
twelve apostles, and B. H. Roberts,
one Of tie seven presidents of the
seventies aspire to the senate and
house of representatives of the
United States. They are democra IS.
meeting of the church authorities
was held last week to see about this
candidacy. President Joseph F.
Smith said that one of the twelve and
one of the seven presidents had seen
tit to accept nominal tons for political
offices without first taking counsel
with the first presidency. This was
contrary to the rules of the church
and subversive of good discipline.
How do they know" he asked. but
that they might be called away at
any time on mission? They receive
compensation for their services from
the church and the church is there
fore entitled to their full time Sew
eral meetings of the executive COM
mlttee of the state democratic COM
mittee have been held to discuss the
situation, and war talk has been the
order of business. Chairman Powers
has placed his resignation in the
keeping of the executive committee.
and will insist upon its acceptance
unless the ban be removed. AS a re-
suit of all this there may be hard
work to roll up a majority next
month against the admission of Utah
as a state.