The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-08-01

This query was addressed to Jonn l.
Axton, secretary of the Y. NJ. C. A,
with particular reference to the next
municipal election.
Mr.. Axton's reply was that the Y. NJ.
c. A. was without politics or creed;
that as an association it would not and
could not take part in any independent
political movement such as confem-
plated by the municipal league. Its
membership, however, believed that the
purity of government rested in the viz
tue of the citizens and is largely in
terested in all measures which tend to
promote good administration. While
the organization would not identify it
self with any political body, the spirit
de corps would lead in the selection of
clean men for political office, regardless
of party affiliations.
Mr.. Axton believed in holding the po
litical parties responsible for the char
acter of their candidates. He believed
that the triumph of the Citizens party
in 1898 taught the politicians a good
lesson, though at that time he was a
defeated candidate on the Liberal
ticket. Mr.. Axton did not think the
people were yet dominated by machine
politics, as politics in Salt Lake had
not obtained sufficient growth to be
managed on Tammany lines. He did
not think a third ticket probable ana
ridiculed the idea of the municipal
league leading in any such movement.
In support Of this contention Mr.. AK
ton related that a message came over
the phone in the Y. NJ. c. A. building
the other day inquiring when the next
meeting of the league would be held.
Both voices at the phone belonged to
members of the league and Y. M. c. A.
The reply to the inquiry was one of
ignorance as to the time Oh the next
meeting, coupled with the prediction
that the chances were the league had
held its last meeting; that the with
draWal of the Mormon contingent left
the league on the verge of speedy dis
solution; that the only Mormon of
prominence remaining in the league
was Mrs. Emmeline 3. Wells. and that
even she was becoming shaky."
NOT A BIT sHAKY.
The Woman's Exponent is located in
the Constitution building. Among her
multiplicity of duties, Mrs. Wells con-
ducts the editorial department of this
journal, and the lady was found there
yesterday afternoon. She received her
visitor gTaciously, but when ne pro-
duced a, notebook she shook her head
reprovingly and declined to talk for
publication. She kept up a general flow
of conversation on topics other than
the one which brought her visitor,
meanwhile searching for some mis-
placed copy for the Exponent, and gave
a very WOmanly exclamation of salts
faction when at last it was discovered.
Probably no woman in the land is so
actively identified with as many
schemes of a religious, political and re-
fornatory character having for their
al, iaf ,,fr
en-, and her whole time is occupied in
the performance of their multifarious
duties.
1t was Mrs. La Barthe who enlisted
Mrs. Wells in the league movement
and she regrets that more time is not
at her disposal to help carry out its
aims. SO far from being "shaky'' in
her allegiance she is more earnest than
ever. But" said Mrs. Wells, L be-
lieve the league should confine itself
to the discussion OF plans which have
for their object the determination of
vice and local abuses and the election
of clean candidates to enforce whole
some laws.
$50 far as myself being the only
prominent Mormon left in the league
continued Mrs. Wells, why there is
Miss FarnswOrth, a member of one of
the WealthieSt families in the city. OF
any Mormon Withdrawals ror have 1
heard any expressions Of dissatisfac-
ton among members of the league"
THE LEAGUES SECRETARY.
Charles D. Parsons is secretary of
the league and connected with the
Derge company book store on Main
street. Explaining the phone Incl
dent, Mr.. Parsons said that the last
regular meeting of the league was adj
journed because the date fell on a day
while the Trans Mississippi congress
was in session, and the interest of the
league members was centered in the
affairs Of the Jubilee.
rs it true that the Mormons gen
orally have left the Lacquer" inquired
the reporter.
to that church have left u.s." replied
Mr.. Parsons. How many Mormons
do not know. The league is
composed of all shades of religious be-
liefs. No inquiry is made regarding
4 members religious convictions"
of those who remain whom you
know to be Mormons, now many are
Orominent?'
None but Mrs. Emmeline B. Wells.''
But Mrs. Wells herself names Miss
Farnsworth," persisted the reporter.
Miss Farnsworth handed in her res
gnation. Unwilling to lose such val
liable auxiliary, the committee endeay-
lred to persuade Miss Farnsworth to
'ecall her withdrawal. They were I'M
and it becomes my duty as
to present her resignation at
he next meeting of the league, which
axes place next Thursday night
What causes have conspired to this
secession of the Mormon membership
Ia Lao ~, avf
There may be reasons other than
he one accepted. The general impress
'ion seems to be that the secession fol- |
owed the sermon which John T. Game |
rave in the tabernacle. He called at /
ention to municipal abuses, but said |
heir correction did not lie in organ
cations like the Municipal league. He |
advised his hearers to drop it,
REV. DIR. LOCKWOOD
# the Tiff NJ. E. church is the mos. |
arnest advocate of league methods in |
he ministry. He was found in his
DOM at the Grand and the story of |
he phone and the Mormon withdraw
lis was news to him. His relations |
With the Mormon people were of the |
most cordial character, and he regret /
ed the cause which alienated them !
rom the objects of the league. DR.. |
lockwood is enthusiastic in every re-
orm which the league has in hand or is |
He believes its work |
les along the lines Of education and !
as we'll as promoting |
rood citizenship. Even were the league |
lot an immediate necessity in our
midst, still would he advocate it for |
,arrying out the purposes mentioned.
DR.. Lockwood alluded to the poor |
wretch who hanged himself in the city |
all on Friday morning. Here was an |
Example of the necessity of carrying