The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-07

AT yesterday afternoons session of
the house of representatives, action
was proposed by Representative Lloyd
that will undoubtedly result in the
governor and the legislature of Utah
emphatically branding as malicious
falsehoods the charges growing out Of
Brigham H. Roberts nomination and
election to congress, rejecting upon the
social and political conditions in Utah.
ON this subject the sentiments pro-
posed are unquestionably those of the
vast majority of Utah people, irrespec-
tive of religious or political belief. The
matter was presented to the legisla-
tive body by Mr.. Lloyd in the form of
house joint resolution No. II, the text
of which is as follows:
Whereas, Many false and misleading
statements concerning political and social
conditions in Utah have recently been dis
semlnated by the press and public speak
ers throughout the land, among such
statements being these:
mat the nomination and election of
Brigham II. Roberts as representative
from Utah in the titty-sixth congress " ere
brought about through the influence of
me Mormon church, and that Brigham ii.
Roberts was the church candidate;
That the Mormon church dominates
political affairs in Utah:
That the election of Brigham H. Roberts
Utah to resume and legalize the practice
of polygamy:
That a majority of the people of Utah
are covenant breakers ana that they en-
dorse -law-breaking;
And, Whereas, the dissemination of such
false statements, if permitted to pass un-
challenged and uncontradicted, are cal
culated to. create and perpetuate grossly
erroneous impressions concerning the peo-
pie of Utah; therefore, be it
Resolved, By the governor and legisla-
ture of the state of Utah, that we brand
as absolute falsehoods each and all of the
foregoing charges; and that we further
declare the facts to be:
That said Brigham FL. Roberts was not
in any sense the candidate of any church
or ecclesiastical body; that he was sup
ported by Democrats and bimetallists,
without reference to creed that he was
opposed for purely political reasons, by
many prominent leaders of the dominant
church; and that the election returns
proved that he received his largest ma
Jorities from the non-Mormon commune
ties. while his Republican opponents ma
Jorities were returned from those sections
of the state in which the members of the
dominant church predominant; that no
charges have been preferred against
Brigham H. Roberts since his election
that were not made by his political OPP
ponentS prior to election, and well known
to the people when they elected him to
congress by a majority exceeding 5000;
that the dominant church of Utah as
represented by President Lorenzo Snow
and his counseIors, does not attempt to
interfere in or control the political af-
fairs OF the state; that the guarantee in
the state constitution of the absolute d.
vorcement of the church and state is
sacredly observed, and that the people of
Utah are divided upon the national politi-
cal issues as honestly and sincerely, and
are as free and untrammeled in the ex-
preston of their political convictions
through the ballot as are the citizens of
any states in the Union; that we express
fr-I.1 III -F +I,,~ . +.
the desire of the people of Utah, or of
any citizen of the state to legalize or re-
store the practice of polygamy, but, on
the contrary, We believe that the mani
festo prohibiting plural marriages was
issued by the church authorities and en-
dorsed by the people in good faith, and
that they have strictly and ConScientiouSly
adhered to this rule. And, imbued with
this belief, we declare that the people of
Utah are as loyal and law-abiding, as
honest and as virtuous as are the citi-
zens of any state, and that they have
violated no pledges nor broken any cove
nant with the nation and any allegations
to the contrary we resent as ISLANDERS
upon our constituents.
Whereas, Many false and misleading
statements concerning social and poIiti-
cal conditions in Utah have been circu-
lated over the country; and.
Whereas, These Misrepresentation are
malicious in their nature and harmful in
their effect; and,
Whereas, They are circulated ostensibly
for the purpose of preventing the con
gressman-elect from taking his seat. but
really to discredit the majority of the
people of Utah in the eyes of the nation;
and.
Whereas. It has been said to and
through the legislatures of other states.
and by certain newspapers that B. h
Roberts was "a church candidate; that
his nomination and election was due to
Church influence that the Mormon
church dominates political affairs in
Utah; that the election of Mr. Roberts in
dictated purpose on the part of the peo-
pie of Utah to resume and legaliZe the
practice of polygamy; that the Contraction