Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-01-21
THE USUAL CRY.

A senatorial campaign Is a turbulent
and exciting affair In q great many
States Of the Union. Perhaps II would
be. Il the choice was made by popular
vote. But there is a general and rapidly
growing belief that the only effectual
way 10 stop the scandals which at
tach to 50 many elections by state leg.
islatures. is 10 let the people vote for
United States Senators directly at the
polls. This need not change In the
least the constitutional plan Of making
the Senators the representatives OF the
whole state from which they come, and
OF giving to each State the same mum.
Der OF Senators, whether the state be
large or small in population or area.
IN Utah there is always d situation
peculiar 10 conditions here. No matter
who may appear to be likely to obtain
considerable support behe Mormon or
nom Mormon" the cry Is raised at
once that he Is the candidate Of the
Church. and for that reason, II for no
other, opposition il invited against him
This is urged with increased emphasis
II II can be made TO appear, that some
prominent Churohman has expressed
his desire to see the candidate elected,
or has been seen in conversation with
him or his supporters.
II looks as II there would be 40 end to
this everlasting drone about Church
influence" nor to the variety Of It's
lntonatlons II appears to us that 1t
Is about time the dread Of this charge
should utterly cease Men Of stamina
ought not TO be affected by It In any
way, except to despise IL. Legislators,
who are supposed to be exceptional
citizens, selected for their honorable
position because OF their ability ana
good sense, ought to be entirely indliter-
ent to the ntImation that they have
been ordered or "counseled," or "dl-
reeted" to vote for a certain man or
measure by influential Church officials
Suppose It were true that the Presi-
dency Of the Church, or some other dig
nltarles In high positions, had expressed
their preference for senatorial candl-
date. What u It? Have they not as
much right 10 choice as any other
private citizen. a lawyer, a merchant
a banker an editor. or, to take another
class Us a saloon.keeper, a gambler,
Spectator, or another such as a dealer
In stocks OF bonds or anything else? II
not why not2 To go further II they
believe that the election OF certain
Individual would be beneficial to the in
terests OF the state, or Of the Church,
or Of both. why should they not have
the privilege Of entertaining and ex-
pressing that conviction? Why should
they be deprived Of free thought and
debarred from free speech?
Tho leading spirits Of the Mormon
Church are, most Of them, men OF long
experience in the affairs Of Utah. Many
Of them helped 20 lay the foundations
Of the State. The people they preside
over compose the majority Of It's pop
ulatlon. They have the right to en-
gage In anything and everything that
relates TO the welfare OF their follow
ers. And the people have the right to
consult them, n they $50 desire, In ref
erence 10 every measure that affects
them, temporarily or spiritually. What
sort Of bondage is that which would
deny them the freedom Of choosing
their own advisers
We are Of the opinion that there Is
not a candidate Tor the office Of United
states Senator. who would refuse the
support Of the Church authorities or
would no, be very glad II he could OBJ
tain It, Why, then, should it be con-
,idered a reason for a mans defeat that
The Church Is said TO be supporting
nim7 And shy should any
Mormon" member Of the Leg
stature feel any trepidaton
II being charged with having
received advice from prominent Church
authority, in reference to q public mat
ter within the line OF his duty? We
think every public man should take
he stand that he has the right to De-.
ten to suggestions from any and every
source that he chooses. TO seek ana TO
act upon them II they appear 10 be
sound and suitable
As 10 Church orders In political NJ.
fairs, the suspicious concerning them
are without basis. ana everybody who
knows anything about Mormon doe
.rlne and Church government knows
hat no such orders or eiIcts are ever
.ssued. The stories about them are
sheer fabricatlons. The Dgserct News
ioes not know OF amy counseIs or in.
.imatlons Of choice from the Presi.
iency In the present scramble for office
We do not believe the presiding au.
.horitles are engaged IN IT, M any man
aer whatever Il Is only their rights
n the premises that We contend for
coupled with the right OF every person
gho 50 selects, 60 accept their advice
when It Is rendered
The inslnuatons which are being
brown out about bribery and the in-
luence OF money. We hope win have as
title effect as the cry about Church
influence. We believe the legislators OF
his State are as free from such con.
aminatlons as any men IN America
rhey ought not to be deferred from
nstlne their votes freely ior the candi-
late OF their choice foT fear OF being