The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-19

Today is the time set for the trial Of
Apostle Moses Thatcher by the mem
bers of his quorum, although from pres
ent indications it looks as though it
would be a trial without the presence
of the defendant. What the charges
and specifications are, no man, save
the officials of the twelve, knows. From
the best information which can be had
upon the subject, the accused has not
been accused. 1t is simply supposed
that it is some infraction of church dis
cipline which will be heard, should the
trial take place. What its nature is
10 one can tell. A Herald reporter saw
Mr. Thatcher yesterday afternoon and
endeavored to obtain some information
from him on the subject, but he reso-
lutely refused to speak at all upon the
subject, asserting he had nothing what
ever to offer. An attempt at a sharp
questioning was futile, Mr.. Thatcher
declining to be led into vouchsafing an
answer to a single Interrogation.
Il have nothing whatever to say con-
corning the matter, and must ask you
to excuse me from discussing the sit
udtion," was his reply.
But there were others questioned.
The information was obtained yester-
day that it is very doubtful if a meet
ing is held at all today, on account
of other matters which are at this
quorum. That if it should meet there
is little likelihood of the Thatcher case
being brought up, owing to develop
ments of the last As hours which re-
quire attention at the hands of the
higher authorities of the church.
Still, if it should be decided that Mr..
Thatcher should receive attention there
is strong probability that he will not
be there. AS stated, no charges have
been given him and the extent of his
offense is known to him only through
the public statements or criticisms
made by the church authorities. Mr..
Thatcher has been forbidden TO enter
the temple, and until he is invited it
would be impertinence on his part to
go there. From the best information
to be had at this time, no invitation
has been extended.
There is a statement going the rounds
to the effect that some time ago Mr..
Thatcher informed the quorum that if
it would give him public hearing, he
would permit it to go over his entire
life in the church, and that if any true
charges were presented he would plead
guilty to them, reserving the right to
reply to false ones. He was asked
specially as to this yesterday, but re-
fused to discuss any farther than ex-
planned in his answer quoted, that he
had nothing TO say whatever. This
erty, and while Mr.. Thatcher may be
10th TO admit it, there is reasonable
ground for believing It
So the outlook for today, as relates
to Mr.. Thatcher, is in miStiness. There
may be a trial and there may not, but
the proba bilities incline toward the
latter.
The utterances anent the senatorial
situation made by the Deseret News,
the organ of the dominant church,
during the past two days, have caused,
as it is no exaggerat ton to say, an
intense feeling in this city and state.
1t is but justice to admit that the SEN
timent prevailing is one of alarm at
the alleged attitude of the organiza-
ton as expressed in it's official mouth
piece. Allusion was made in the edi-
torial columns of The Herald yesterday
to the expressions of the News in its
edition of Tuesday. The other morn
ing daily also discussed it at some
length, both locally and editorially, and
as result the tongues of those who
are most interested in the political fu-
ture of the commonwealth were busy
all day yesterday discussing the situa-
ton.
The general belief in these circles is
that the church, failing to achieve an
object within itself, namely, the disci-
pline of Hon. Moses Thatcher for al
legged recalcitrance, now seeks to at
tain its object by Furnishing him with
defeat for an office to which he can
aspire if for no other reason because
he was last year selected as a sena-
torial nominee by his party in political
convention assembled. An opposite
view is held by the friends of Mr..
Thatcher. With an apparent frankness
which no one has a right to distrust
they state that from positive evidence
which they have in their possession.
and which will be given to the public
when the proper moment arrives, it is
not the church as an organization of
people, pursuing its tenor of religious
belief, but on the contrary a select few.
high in authority, seeking to crafty
their revenge for a pique caused by
the refusal of Mr.. Thatcher to accede
to certain of their demands.
BEEF SUGAR BOUNTY.