Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-01-10
WHAT UTAH NEEDS.

form which shall result in permanent
cessation of the misrepresentation,
which frequently amount to vindictive
falsehoods. and have for their victims
the more prominent officers OF the
Mormon Church. In respect to these
men, strange, strained and unnatural
condition exists II one of them sees
fit to engage in some enterprise, as a
railroad, mandatory. an Irrigation
or electric power plant, ETC., whispers
begin to be circulated that the Nor
mon Church IL behind It," and the In
ference In conveyed that some sinister
purpose is sought to be accomplished.
No matter how simple and compre-
hensible to man OF sense and hon
esty the entire proposition may be; no
matter how benehcent in It's results TO
the public at large: no matter how
much employment II may give to idle
labor, nor how much money II may put
in circulation, nor how philanthropic
in It's purpose, II It is apparently
fathered by n man who, besides being
an enterprising citizen and good
f.nancier, happens also to hold prom
incnt ecclesiastical position In the
Mormon Church. there is always OF
bopd nm Iopo. who. with cunning
malice. transforms good into evil and
polsons the air with Internal envy,
jealousy and suspicion.
AS for poIitics. IL is MS much M the
neace of the state Is worth for one of
those mon IN exerc,se the siunlest and
a.,,.o,. r,,,,, ~ ~ A,,or,c,n c,,tvor
n condition ma,n,v dpe IN the Ioro-
,tLa .n,r,t roeorrod IN Tboryb thev
,,or. ar,oro ,ho ,or,a.r, -, ,ha stoto
and have dora thousana ,,mos wore
81 ,,,,,s :. 80, .,,.n - ,,,a ,o,aoa.
..,, -. ,.,.
,,
~ se"
Po' y, .nv Nia.e"ee :" ,"e" ''s
anu NV ~ ''an VI
"'"'" ''e" enc, e'"'o'' '''e never
oeei even Suspec'eu' anu 'housh ,ney
nre h'hohs 'he heaVies' 'nN payers III
me iocahties IN which their MONIES are
Stunted' IL one OF them expresses
above his breath his opinion upon any
Public question, such as pending bill.
the candidacy for Office of given in
dividual, a public expenditure, tax
levy, the public schools. etc, there
instantly arises a hubbub. and the
whine goes out that the Mormon
Church is interfering In politics.
1t is literal fact that several hun
dred men reside in the State OF Utah,
who are American citizens and have
been residents OF the commonwealth
from n quarter to half n century; who
have been prominent in movements
looking to the planting of colonies and
lagos in all parts of its territory; who
are heavy property owners; whose
business and executive ability is un-
questioned; whose public spirit and
patriotism are indubltable; whose in
tegrity is as incorruptlble ms gold; and
whose wisdom and experience qualify
them. as no men in the State are quail
flied, TO give advice upon and take a
leading part in legislation and public
affairs generally; yet who are under an
inhibition which prevents them from
even expressing their views upon pub
lie questions.
A species OF insanity seems TO exist
on the part of many people, at home
and abroad, in respect TO these men;
and SO far has this condition prevailed
that when one of them. I'm approncbinr
the polls to cast his vote happened TO
permit q by-stander to catch a glimpse
of the ballot he was about to deposit.
a sensation was created out of the incl
dent, and the voter was attacked and
denounced by the press. or rather by
that portion of It which opposed the
ticket he held in his hand because he
allowed another person than himself to
see it; aad a great many citizens en-
tertained and expressed the same
views as did these NEWSPAPERS. This
was lust before the lately enacted
Australian ballot law went into effect.
Not an equal number of men could
be selected from the population of the
enjoy every privilege and blessing in
cldent to citizenship than have these
men: and yet they are barred from
political office. from political discus
sion, from expressing political views,
from supporting political friends, and
from every political privilege save the
right to vote; and tais right must be
exercised secretly or this class Of