Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-12-16

for the future it win be exercised in be-
half of the Church. The outlook has
this to say:
THAT President MILFORD Woodruff
demand at the October conference that
Mormons should unite in politics was
taken ms more weighty than the light
talk of an old man was shown in the
results in salt Lake City. John Clark
the candidate for mayor of the cit-
zens, but a very devout Mormon ana
the undlsputed Church candidate, was
elected by small majority. The Cen
tile vote and the Independent vote were
divided among three candidates-all
Gentles. Mr.. Clark was supported by
the politicians whose names are al
ways associated with church politics,
and the conclusion that the Church G.
lected him Is well supported. Every
Gentle who was on the ticket with him
was defeated. Every Gentle who was
on the other tickets was seriously
scratched, and every Mormon running
received a comparatively large vote.
The same result was seen all over Utah.
Ogden's administration, as well as Salt
Lakes, will be in the hands of Nor
mons. though in each the Gentiles form
the bulk Of the population. The city
council in each case, by n majority of
Mormons, shows result of religious
voting, The tendency of Aformons to
important bearing on national affairs.
1t is not improbable that next year
legislature may be elected In Titan
which will be so overwhelmingly Nor
mon that United States senator will
be chosen who will give his chief ale
glance to the Church leaders,"
The quotation is another illustration
of the tenacity with which even those
who should be teachers among their
fellow-men will cling to prejudices of
long standing. Misconceptions once es-
tablished are not easily corrected. That
the Church is political power" is one
of these lingering errors that. ghost
like, appear and reappear when least
expected.
The whole argument based on the re-
suits of the municipal elections is
fallacy. Mr., John Clark was not can
didate of the Church, whether disputed
or undisputed; nor was he elected by
Church influence. Mr.. Clark was the
candidate proposed by n committee of
citizens who united for the sole purpose
of workn~ for good city government.
In this committee were as many Cen
tiles as Mormons, both sides being
represented so as to remove every just
ground for the charge of religious par
tisanship. Mr. Clark was after some
discussion, decided upon, not because
of his religious affiliations, but be-
cause it was believed that he was the
candidate most likely to carry the VIC
tory. The talk about a Church candi-
date or Church election is without foun-
dalton, and SO is the rest of the allega-
tons of the outlook in this connection.
The leaders of the Church, and the
members, in common with all good citi-
zens, have an interest in the establish
ment of the best possible government
in their settlements and in the State, as
in national affairs. AS citizens 1t is
their right and their duty to aid in the
accomplishment of this purpose to the
best of their ability. They claim no
other rights. If the Mornons merit
criticism on this ground, growing
class of voters all over the Republic,
and that of the best element, stand
condemned, too. But they all are on
constitutional ground, safe as long as
that instrument of liberty remains.