Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-03-30
POLITICAL "sECREr SWAY"

"a serious charge Il entered against
the polygamous Mormon Church by the
Rev Mr.. INN. To the effect that the
church potentates hold secret sway
over Utah politics. This IL not In strict
accord with American religious toler-
nncc. though States that are under the
dominion ~ political bosses have little
room for complaint"
That IL clipped from the Pittsburs
Dispatch. II IL onr more testimony to
the dishonor ~ n Methodist preacher.
who IL wilfuiiy bearing false witness
against n people that have always
treated him with the utmost Kindness
and Christian consideration.
II II the old cry revived. Ministers Of
different denominations echoed n
throughout the land. In the old times OF
Utah's political bondage. whenever
they found their treasures empty. and
tried TO rcplcnluh them by passing
round the plate In eastern consrcg..
lions. This IL the present end IN view,
II may be attained to tho extent ~
raising money. but II viii fail. except
Tor little Henson. In dcccivlng the
American public.
The serious charge" preferred by Or.
HIN and others Of his cloth Just now, lr
not fortified by even an att.mpt nj
proof. In the general election ~ las,
November which IL the specific time OF
the alleged "secrrt sway" Their. was
no indication whatever that the church
inteffcred. either openly or under cover.
with the free VIII Of the voters. Every
truthful person who knows anything
ABOUT nfrairs here recognizes that
Tact A few prominent men In IN.
church took some part In the contest
between the political parties. hut som.
were ON one side and some on the
other. II was u spirited campaign, ana
inc result was. of course. disappointing
to those who did not succeed. nut the
Church was not In II at all. Il was a
political struggle entirely.
The candidate FOR Representative IN
Congress who was elected II ''Mor-
mon" His principal opponent. repre-.
renting the opposite political party. was
also Mormon" II he had been sue.
eesrful would the Church have been
then accused OF secret sway Per-
haps No. Hut IL there anything tanRi.
DIE to show that the Church was either
victorious or defeated at that election?
Certainly not. Hut II IL claimed TINT
Tue sway IN SECRET" How has that
been discovered? who knows anything
definite about ~ Did the Church
'asor the successful or tho defeated
grandfather There Ia nothing 10 support
or even suggest the notion OF 'sccret
sway" but the Imagination OF diaap.
pointed partisanH or OF such xealoua
'nthcrcrs OF pecunlary tribes ns Dr.
inn ana his Itinerary compecrr.
The dominion Of political bosnes" IL
powerful. no doubt. In Pennsylvania ms
ven AZ In other States. Utah. ". be-
ieve. Is as little under such dlctation |
~ any part OF the Union. There are
Nould-be BOSSES here, and they some. |
lines try Ia exercise SECRET sway" be.
'ause such domination openly would
BE- at once rcsented, Hut We sincere.
y believe that the people NJ Utah are
u least ~ free politically M any 9th.
'rs under the sun.
our state Constitution declares,
There shall be no union " church ana
tate. nor shall any church dominate
he state or interfere with It's func.
Ions" That provision ls In force and
not violated. Dr. Ilin IN as strong
partisan as any othr citizen OF
itah, and exercises such political I'm.
luence Us he can. without Interference
" complaint No one claims that what