The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-04-10
THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE
Belief That Lawrence Will De.
cline the Presidency.
WARREN FOSTER SUCCEEDS IN
STIRRING THEM UP.
Denounces the Organization in Caus-
tic Terms-Says it Is an Effort to
Put the City Under Methodist
Church Rule.

Warren Foster succeeded in creating
something of sensation yesterday
afternoon, especially among the NUM-
cipal Leaguers, when his paper, the In
ter-Mountain Advocate, appeared.
Independent of Mr.. Fosters editorial,
which created much comment, and
chiefly of a favorable nature, it seems
to be understood that Hon. H. w. Law
renee will decline the presidency of the
Municipal League, not because he does
not fully sympathize with the object of
the organization as originally set out,
but because of the exceedingly narrow
groove in which it now appears the
League is to run. Many who favored
the idea at first are now taking the
position that the net result of the
Leagues operations on the proposed
lines would be to add to the misery of
d few unfortunates. without resulting
in any real or lasting benefit to the
community.
Mr.. Fosters editorial, which created
so much comment, reads as follows:
The Municipal League at its meet
ing two weeks ago, elected Hon. H. W.
Lawrence president of the association.
1t seemed TO be a queer proceeding, as
Mr.. Lawrence was not present, had
never attended one of its meetings,
and, so far as anyone knew, had never
so much as expressed himself in SYM
pathy with it Prior to the organiza-
ton of the concern, Mr.. Lawrence, with
other broad-minded men of the city,
were waited upon and requested to join
the organization, which claimed as its
purpose the discussion of the live issues
OF the day. To this Mr.. Lawrence gave
his assent, but upon discovering that it
was to be nothing more nor less than
sort of vigilance committee, COM
posed almost wholly of meddlesome
women and Methodist preachers. and
that its highest and only aim would be
to look after the small offenders of the
city. he did not go, until last evening
he attended in response to his election.
He declined to accept the honOrs CD
50 generously rendered him, for the
present, at least; and the Advocate
feels warranted in saying that Mr..
Lawrence will never be it's president.
THE question has been asked several
times, why are they so anxious to have
Mr.. Lawrence for president? There
are two reasons for it. One is that they
want to use his high standing to tone
up the concern. and, secondly, they
want someone with broad shoulders like
Mr.. Lawrence's to act as their scape-
goat. After the work is done. what
ever blame might attach would go to
Mr.. Lawrence, the glory would go to
God, and the benefits to the Methodist
church.
1T has taken hundreds of years and
oceans of the best blood that ever
coursed through human veins to free
the country from church rule and OPP
preston. The people are not ready to
take a step backward. The step will
not be taken. The ultimate amin
fact the only aim-of the municipal
league as it is run, is to put the city
under church rule. We object, and shall
not be backward in saying so. Once
under church dictation and freedom is
gone. Church rule and freedom can
no more exist together than thing can
be black and white at the same time.
Whenever or wherever you see a lot of
Methodist preachers, or any kind of
preachers, uniting themselves together
for a certain purpose, you want to
watch them