The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-04-18
MIR. cRITcHLow AND THE JuNTA,


umns of nonpareil type-of Mr.. e. B.
Critchlow, published in yesterdays
Tribune. We are of opinion that in
condensing Mr. Crftchlow's matter we
have omitted no fact essential to his
case; and that our readers have before
them all the proofs that the gentleman
has so far presented in support of his
charges of the existence of a church
junta to control legislation.
The questions that the people are in
terested in are: How does the case
stand? Has Mr.. Critchlow proven his
charges? With the facts before them
presented by Mr. Critchlow, and the
denials of the gentlemen said to have
constituted the committee, and also the
denials of the church officials, our
readers will determine each for him
self how the case stands, and whether
or not Mr.. Critchlow has proven the
charges made.
To The Herald, giving full weight
TO all the proofs he addresses, we must
say that there was some color perhaps
on the surface of things for Mr.. Critch-
lows suspicious of the existence of
some kind of a committee appointed
by church authority, to in some way or
other look after legislation; but that
such a committee had actually been
appointed and really existed in the
face of the substantial denials of all
the gentlemen said to have composed
it, and in the face of the denials Of
the first presidency of the Mormon
church, we cannot believe. And, more
over, there is a wide difference between
the circumstances which justify the
suspicious of Mr.. Critchlow, and those
that would prove the charges which we
think he somewhat hastily made.
How great the task was which Mr..
Critchlow proposed to himself he seems
to have overlooked, for his evidence
falls far short of reaching to the
charges he made in his first commune
cation. For instance, he charges in
his first communication: "The inter
ference to which I refer is the attempt
by advice and counsel directly and
mediately from the leaders of the
church to control legislative action.
Nor do 1 refer to such advice
and counsel as might properly be
given by individuals as such, enforced
by arguments and reasons, but to that
kind of advice and counsel which is
enforced by threats of church disci-
pine, entailing the obedience due to a
spiritual superior
Mr.. Critchlow specifically charged
1.-The existence of a committee or junta
of five individuals appointed and set
apart by the leaders of the church to
pass upon all proposed legislation, to
approve or veto pending measures, not
upon considerations affecting the state,
but affecting the persons under whose
direction they are acting. The
fact that a majority of these men so
appointed and set apart to control a
Republican executive and legislature
were Democrats is but the least Of the
Objectionable features"
Mr.. Critchlow's evidence does not
reach to the heighth of these charges.
The most that can be said for the evil
dence he presents is that certain leg
islators calling upon the presidency OF
the Mormon church for consultation on
legislative matters were referred to
men of known experience in leglsla-
ton, and from this circumstance grew
the idea of the existence of a commit
tee: and in the matter of the educa-
tional bill, since all the gentlemen con-
suited on that matter, were in one
way or another connected with church
educational institutions, they may in
that case even have spoken Of them
selves as a committee. But nowhere is
it apparent that there was junta of
men appointed and set apart by the
leaders of the church to pass upon all
proposed legislation, to approve or
veto pending measures" ETC., by that
kind of advice and counsel which is
enforced by threats of church dlscl-
pline." Nor does it appear anywhere
that such a committee was appointed
and set apart to control Republican
executive and legislature"
It is admitted that some of the meas
ures supported by gentlemen supposed
to comprise this junta failed-was there
any threat of church discipline made
to those who brought about that de-
feat?
1t is said that to the jealous tribes
light as air are strong as proofs OF
holy writ; and so in our community
where suspicion and distrust have SO
long prevailed things in and Of them
selves harmless, and done out of
general thought of common good to all
NAV be distorted into shapes out of all
semblance of the intent which fash
toned them.
Under such circumstances what shall
we do? Why we must bear and for
bear. and with patience await the So
luton of all the difficulties that con-
front us. It must not be forgotten
that substantial progress has been
made and is being made, and that rap
idly. To return to old conditions-the
conditions of fifteen, ten or five years
ago. is impossible; our faces are not
set that way. But we must not be
content with not turning back; we must
60 forward, and it is not the part OF
wisdom, good citizenship, or patriot
ism to retard that progress.
BIMETAI.LIsTs CONSIDERED HERE