The San Francisco call., 1895-10-15
DILEMMA OF DEMOCRATS
Repu ublicans Hope to Over
come the Action of the
Mormon Church.
FEARS OF A PRIEsTLY RULE.
"Young Utah" Expects to Work Out
the Salvation OF the
Territory.

SALT LAKE, UTAH, Oct. 14.-A terrible
upheaval in the political situation of Utah
has been precipitated here. The trouble
is all caused by the first presidency of the
Mormon church, which is composed of
President Wilford Woodruff and his coun-
selors, George @. Cannon and Joseph F.
Smith. On Monday of last week the two
last named gentlemen, in a priesthood
meeting, denounced Moses Thatcher and
B. FL. Roberts. Democrats, for going into
politics without first consulting the church
authorities. Both Thatcher and Roberts
are high ecclesiastical officials in the Nor
mon church, and are more recently can
didates for United States Senator and
Congressman respectively, from Utah, on
the Democratic ticket.
The Argus (Republican) on Saturday
came out with double-leaded editorial
ana also q long account of the trouble,
claiming that the criticism meant in brief
that the first presidency is anxious for a
Democratic defeat. The Argus claims
that 1t is resumption of the old fight of
Mormon against Gentle, and says it pre-
fers Republican defeat rather than a
victory through priesthood rule.
AO tA1CAoi0 \bCuOCI dLlC) SlIOuRly O6-
nounces the remarks of Smith and Cannon
and quotes Chairman Powers of the State
Democratic Committee as saying that the
Democratic party will probably withdraw
its ticket unless the authorities recede in
their action and further that the people
will be asked to vote against the constitu-
ton, which means the defeat of statehood.
President Woodruff to-day says that the
remarks of Cannon and Smith were cor
rect; that they but laid down a rule of the
Mormon church in telling its high
dignitaries to keep out of politics and to
not engage in any other than ecclesiastical
labors.
B. II. Roberts, one of the candidates
criticized, says to-day that he is willing to
yield to the church in all things, but he
was nominated as member of the consti-
tutional convention and was not criticized
and more recently was nominated for
Congress and heard no complaint. HE
loves the church." he says, 'but is going
to fight for political liberty"
The affair has caused the greatest sensa-
ton. Old timers claim it is reopening of
the rule of the priesthood and means sew
eral important things-the withdrawal of
the Democratic ticket. victory for the
Republicans, the seeding of some of the
most prominent Mormon Democrats from
the church or the utter defeat of statehood
for Utah.
The Evening Telegram tonight quotes
Chairman Powers of the State Democratic
Committee, in long interview, under q
scare head desperate Democracy"
Powers talks of his party voting against
statehood and hundreds of Republicans
joining him with the Democrats in the
abandonment of National party lines and
the reorganization of the old Liberal or
anti Mormon party.
The Telegram also has q column edi-
torial tonight on the trouble. In the ar
ticle is the following paragraph: "From a
Republican standpoint, the situation is
most alarming. 1t has been our firm be-
lief that Republicanism would certainly
triumph in this section. but victory in the
face of such menacIng blows at statehood
is hardly worth the effort. Statehood can
not be obtained if some conciliatory meas