The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-14

Especial 10 4Ee deraiQ-)
Ogden, Utah, Oct 1S.-The open and
persistent efforts of certain Mormon
church officials in Weber county to
create an impression that the first
presidency had expressed a desire for
the election of Senator Cannon, and had
counseled support of the Cannon fusion
ticket in Weber county, have been an
important feature of the pending cam
paign. In view of the conflicting asser-
tions that have been made, and the
general public interest in the subject,
the Ogden correspondent of The Her
aid sought from the first presidency
direct statement concerning its atti-
tude as to the candidacy of Senator
Cannon.
The correspondent found President
Snow at his home, 81 Canyon road, Salt
Lake, and was cordially received. The
following was the conversation, in sub
stance:
president Snow" said the reporter,
there is much misunderstanding in
Weber county over the position Of the
first presidency in regard to the sena-
torial candidates The impression is
abroad that you are being represented
by President Shurtliff as desiring the
success of Senator Cannon"
"Oh, 1 just received a note about
that. 1 will answer the committees let
ter at once,' said President Snow.
But this is irrespective of any COM
mittee. Will you not state if it be true
or not true?"
WILL KEEP OUT OF POLITICS.
''Well, can explain my own position
in short order. 1 have never been in
politics. I want to keep entirely out of
it, and am not in now never have
said a word to any man to influence
his political choice or action. 1 never
have tried to influence his political ac-
tiOn III any way. l don't want 20. [
want people to choose for themselves.
That's how I feel on it, no matter how
the others feel or what they have said"
IF, then" said the reporter, "Presi-
dent Snurtliff or any other person rep
resented that it is the wish, disposition
and desire of the first presidency that
Senator Cannon be returned to the SEN
ate, he was mistaken"
''Yes, sir. If any man says I ever
did aught TO influence his political
choice he says that which is not so. 1
want the people TO be free about such
things"
You favor then the keeping up of
party lines?"
Yes, certainly I do. If we had rot
we would not have recommended it. I
think it is too bad that we have to be
continually answering that question.
We have said so times enough already.
We have other things to think about
and to do; at least have"
Your statement is then that the first
presidency, as an ecclesiastical body,
has no wishes and has had no wishes
10 communicate regarding politics or
political action?"
That's it"
"And if any stake president is pre-
- 1f,,-- - ~5c1,o I1a
first presidency in such matters his
representations are unauthorized ?"
Yes, sir: 1 believe I have said that
three times already.
May l make your statements public
in this matter?"
''As public as you chDose-tell it to
every man, woman and child in the
world, if you please"
SHURTLIFFS ACTIVITY.
The condition in Weber county which
suggested the necessity for this inter
view is shown in numerous reports
which have been published in The Her
aid and others which have been receiv-
ed and not published. The general tenor
of these reports made il clear that If
President Shurtliff was not making
such representations in the interest OF
Senator Cannon, at least a large sec
tion Of the community believed Mr..
SEurtliff was so doing.
Feeling along this line became so
wrought w. that at a mass meeting
held in Senator Cannon's interest at
which President Shurtliff was chair
man. and at which he announced his
preference for Senator Cannon, Daniel
Hamer. also state senator with Mr..
Shurtliff from Weber county, openly
brought the matter up. The circum-
stances were as follows:
Mr.. Fred Foulger, an influential
churchman from the Fourth ward.
made q speech in advocacy of Senator
Cannon, whereuoon Senator Hamer
arose, and by permission, asked the fol-
lowing question of Mr.. Foulger:
THE chairman of this meeting has
made some reference to certain infiU-
ence which it was charged had
been used, and l want TO ask you if
the chairman of this meeting and the
president of this stake said to you: I
want you to understand that it is the
wish, disposition and desire of PreSi-
dent Woodruff and his counselors that
Frank ]. Cannon should be re-
elected? "
The reply Of Mr.. Foulger was not
satisfactory. as it did not answer the
question regarding Mr. Shurtliff, and
expressed ths belief of Mr.. Foulger in
the right Of his church to choose, if it
so desired.
HAMER'S STATEMENT.
Mr. Eamer later gave the following
statement of what Mr. Foulger said:
In view of the fact that these people
who Friday spoke so fiippantly in their
resolutions of the outlawry and prostitu-
tion as to lead one to suppose that they
were experts on these questions, had
inferenyially included myself and others
of my friends n their false, untrue and
malicious resolutions: and in view of
the fact that Senator Cannon had re-
peatedly declared recently that church
influence had not been used in his be-
half, at the same time ringing in a par
aDhrase of an incident from .Uncle
Toms Cabin" Of the pitiful story of
Eliza crossing the ice chased by the
bloodhounds. determined to ascertain
if 1 could the truth of the matter So.
in company with Mr.. H. W. GwilIiam
and Mr.. r. II. Chambers late this after
noon, called on Mr.. Fred Foulger and