The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-11
Mormon Church in Utah to
Again Become Active
In Manipulation Of Political
Results There.
TO BREAK PROMISES
By Which Utah Obtained Her
Statehood.
BREAK PROMISES
President Woodruff Commands
MOrmOns to Vote Together.

Salt Lake, Utah, Oct. 1.-THE Nor
mon church is again in politics and is
determined to control everything in
the state of Utah. 1t has been pre-
dicted that something important
would be said at the semf-annual con-
ference. which is now being held in this
city. and the aged president. wilford
Woodruff, has not disappointed the
apprehensive ones.
In his character as prophet seer and
revelator the president always gives
counsel" at the conferences. His ser
mon this afternoon in the big taber-
nacle to the 1900 devOut MormOns
who have come from all parts of the
state, contained these significant
words:
The day has come when the mouths
of Wilford Woodruff George O. Can
non, Joseph P. Smith and the twelve
apostles should not be closed. God
Almighty requires you to unite in your
temple work and unite in your politics.
You should unite to elect your city
council and also all your state officials
You must put aside your Democracy
and Republicanism and as Later Day
Saints unite. and you would not be
taxed to DEATH
This utterance is evidently intended
to influence the municipal election in
Salt Lake City and Ogden. There is a
peculiar situation in this city. The
principal municipal officials now are
Republicans, having been elected in
1880 Wnen IeeInS against PRESIDENT
Cleveland ran very high. The Bryan
wave of last year, however, carried
everything before it, and the city is
now regarded as a Democratic strong
hold.
The fear of the Democratic machine
which has theatened to control in the
coming election, has caused the nOmi-
nation of citizens ticket with John
Clark, a Democrat and deVOut Nor
mon, at its head. The Democrats learn
ed that Mr.. Clark was acceptable to
cent primaries they nominated a city
council ticket on which were only
few scattering gentiles.
The Repu ublicanS have nominated
many MOrmOns, but in the main their
ticket, so far as it is made up, is a
nOn-MOTmOn affair. The Democrats
will probably put up a nOn-MormOn
Tor mayor, and the Republicans are
expected to renominate Robert J. Glen
denning, the present mayor. 1t will be
seen, therefore, that the church auth
critics are evidently pushing forward
John r. Clark.
There is great excitement in this city
today over the new order-for order it
1S-S1nce President w OOdruh Is recOg-
nfzed by MOrmOnS as the mOuthpiece
of God. 1t has all the force of a reve-
latiOn among the deVOut Latter Day
Saints. There is no doubt that it Will
cause thousands of MOrmons in the
state to vote only for Mormons in the
election.
The gentle leaders, realizing this.are
greatly alarmed, and are discussing the
ssdVisa bility of reOTganizing the old lib
eral party, which formerly united all
the non -MormOns. This party controll-
ed Salt Lake City, Ogden, Park City
and some important mining camps be
tween 1887 and 1898, when it was dis
solved on national party lines
The supreme court of the state is
composed entirely of n-MOrmOns and
its complexion cannot be changed for
three years. The important district
court, which controls the capital and
rich mining region, also has non-Mor-
mon judges. It is almost certain,
therefore, that the church can be held
at bay for a long time in the metrOpOl-
itan region of the state.
The declaration of President Wood
ruff is believed to have been inspired
by George Q. Cannon, his chief coun-
selOr and father of United States
Senator Frank J. Cannon. 1t is believ-
ed he is planning to succeed his son,
whose term will expire on March 3,1S99.
He was once rejected as a congress
siOnal delegate from Utah because he
was a pOlygamist and it is said by his
close friends that it is his ambition to
go back in triumph to the halls from
which he was cast out.
The re-entry of the church into poll
tics will break all the pledges which
We're given as a condition of statehood.
President Woodruff and his cOunselOrs
sOlemnly promised that no attempt
would be made to unite church and
state They have been accused many
times of bad faith, but have always
denied any intention of influencing
Mormons in their political affairs.