Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-04-23
"DoMEsrIcs AND MoRMoNIsM.'

The Atlanta Constitution publishes o
long article headed as above, in which
an explanation is given of the scarcity
OF domestic servants In all the large
cities and towns OF this country There
has been for some years a universal
complaint OF this dearth Of help In the
house. but the cause for It is now re-
yealed for the first time. II IS declared
In this article that IL Is chiefly occa-
stoned by the secret work Of "Moimon'
Elders, who have been diligently APP
plying themselves TO making converts
In the kitchen. The story Is to the
effect that:
1.-The conversion Of these servants
has gone on quietly and been managed
with skin. In fact. no generals of mod
ern times have carried on campaigns
IN the field with greater ability. tact
and energy than have these Elders who
have gathered their recruits from the
kitchens Of the land and left the couu-
Try with them secretly and silently"
Stories are told Of ladies who have
discovered tracts and pamphlets and
larger works on Mormon" doctrines IN
the kitchen and OF one who actually
met an Elder distributing that kind OF
literature who promised 10 return IN
a week for the book and converse on
the subjects Il contained The tenor OF
the whole article Is 10 convey the idea
that Mormon" missionaries are specl-
ally engaged In converting women. and
more particularly domestic servants
who, when won over 20 the faith. are
taken care OF comfortably until they
are shipped TO Utah where they are
taken under contract OF marriage.
This kind OF work Is said 10 be go
ing on not only IN New York. Chicago
and other American cities. but Il Is
stated
From England come fewer domestics
every season, and the work OF the
'Mormons' in England Is said TO De
the cause. Many English converts 20
The Mormon Church pass through
New York on their way 90 Utah but
Il Is becoming more difficult every day
to hire English servants"
All this is very funny 10 people who
understand the condition OF affairs In
this State, where there are more men
than womenas the census demonstrates
beyond a doubt and where there Is as
great scarcity OF female domestic help
in proportion 10 the population as In
other parts OF the United States. What
makes the article 70 which we refer
sim more ludcrous, Is that IL appeared
originally IN the New York Sun. That
paper IS supposed 20 exercise some care
IN the selection OF matter for It's own
columns and It is surprising that such
a mass OF stuff was permitted publica-
ton On that journal
Il ought to be known by this time In
editorial circles, that Mormon mis-
sionaries are engaged In preaching the
Gospel according 90 the tenets OF their
Church. 10 all people who Will listen
10 them. That even IN the DAYS when
plural marriage was permitted In Utah
there was never any special endeavof
TO convert one class Of society. OF one
sex above another The statistics ~
immigration have demonstrated this
fact beyond any fair dispute, and now
when that practice has entirely ceased.
there IS stan less excuse than before Tor
the notion that Mormon" proselytlsm
is chiefly devoted 10 the conversion and
gathering Of women 10 Utah
II there were any truth In the stories
that have been told concerning the con-
veyance Of girls and young women from
different parts Of the world to the wales
OF Utah, this State would have an i'm
mense majority Of the fair sex. Yet, as
We have said, the number OF males Is IN
excess Of that Of the females, and this
disparity has been shown by the official
census whenever Il has been taken Salt
Lake city today Is suffering from a
scarcity of domestic service as much as
any other city Of its Size IN this coun-
try There is even now talk Of en-
deavoring 20 obtain Japanese servants
10 supply the demand. our daily papers
necessarily publish Advertisements FOR
hired help Of this kind, and the wages
demanded are evidence OF the dearth OF
female help for the household.
II seems that the old fallacious idea
concerning the purpose OF Mormon"
preaching stll prevails even among In
telligent people. To is fostered by Che
influence OF anti Mormon" ministers
whose craft is in danger from the work
Of the Elders with whom they hnd
themselves unable to cope IN a fan
field Of controversy Stories are circu'
lated OF the most absurd and ground
less character boy a hirellng clergy IN
order TO deter people from listening C
our missionaries and investigating th'
doctrines which they are sent forth g
promug1te.
The Atlanta Constitution which cop
les the article from the New York sun
takes 10 task the ministers OF the chris
uen denominations for their neglect ah'
lack Of zeal, in comparison win I'M
Mormon" missionaries who are en-
gagged Ia the fields Of labor opening
up In the South II says;
"These Mormon missionaries preseh
shining examples OF real zeal Witho1
money. without friends and practlcail
without encouragement they Invade IN
field which the Christian churches ma.
neglected and proceed 20 make conN .l'
and 70 build up a Mormon lnhueN0'