Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-04-17
ABOUT THAT COMMITTEE.
Direct Statement From the
First Presidency
They Make a Flat Denial-H0w the
RumOr Came to be starfed-Presf-
dents Cannon and Smith Talk
Freely.

Salt Lake, April "a .direct slate
ment from the first presidency of the
church fatty denies the existence Of q
"steering" committee in legislative mat
tiers. President Cannon stated substan-
TALLY as follows: That no such a COM
mittee had been appointed, Lnor had the
church authorities anything to do with
the appointment of such committee
President Cannon states that at varF-
Gus and numerous times during the sea
sion of the legislature, from beginning
to end, people had come to him and
President Smith, not only Mcrmons, but
so-called Gentiles, urging that steps be
taken to prevent unwholesome, or to Sc
cure desirable legislation. To these re-
Peatsd requests and suggestions-onIy
one of which, by the way, had come
from member of the egiAlature-the
presidency had replied that they we're
not informed as to sthe legislation in
question and had no time in the rnuIail
plicity of their duties to investigate II,
recommending that it would be well TO
consult some of those residents of the
city who were experienced in legislative
matters, such as James Sharp, William
Ritter, F. s. Richards and others. They
disclaimed having any thought or desire
that the gentlemen thus referred to
should act as a committee with author
ity toideeide for or represent the views
ofithe first presidency, but were actin
ated simply by the thought that these
gentlemen might be consulted, one or
all. to ascertain their personal views
upon, or requested to use their influence
for, such laws as they themselves might
deem needful and against such otheE
laws as they might deem to be iniuri,
Gus,
To this extent and no further was any
committee appointed to act for the
church as steering committee for
legislation. Presidents Cannon and
Smith stated that there was no legisla-
ton that they had sought to secure or
defeat through the offices of this or any
other committee. They stated that very
naturally they felt much concern as to
the general course of legislation, Presi-
dent Woodruff having been specially
anxious that taxation should not be IN
necessarily multiplied; that they all felt
that a number of experienced men like
Messrs. Richards and King, who had
been presidents of legislative councils,
and Sharp and Ritter, who had been
speakers, and other men who had been
in the legislature, would interest them
selves in the course of legislation for aIB
he people of the state, it would be ,
patriotic and valuable service They
had not sought TO influence any legisla-
ion, and hal gone no further than to
agree on not more than two or three &C
;asions with people urging the demeTits
or merits of a bill that if the bill was as
or as desirable as was rep
-esented, it ought respectively to fail or
PASS.
So far as their intercourse with the
llleged committee is concerned, thev
tated that the members thereof mad
lever been around to consult them, ex-
ept in two or three instances, and then
lot all of the alleged members, hut ozIy
me or two, such, for instance, as IN the
ase of the so-called college bill, which
vas thought to affect the church schools
nd upon which the presidency were
ensulted, not only by President Kerr Of
he B. Y{college at Logan, the author
f the bill, but by Messrs. Penrose and
harp, both of whom are connected
nth the church schools Even in this
lstance they had expressed no desire
} control legislation; they had even en-
lined varying views on the merits OF
lie bill Messrs. Penrose and Sharp had
onsulted President Smith only, the
her members of the presidency not
aving been present when they ralIed
The gentlemen stated that they had
ot conveyed any message to any mem
r of the Legislature that committee
r consultation had been appointedT
at they did not know how frequently
e proposed gentleman had been con
tied, If at all. nor to what extent, nor
what measures they had consulted
embers Of the legislature.
Governor Wells does not take a seri-
S view of the matter at all. He looks
the statements made as huge joke
d laughs when the "junta" is men
ned in his presence. He YESTERDAY