Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-01-22
WHAT WE STAND FOR

The Deseret News takes the position
that no man ln the church OF Jesus
Christ Of Latter-day Saints Is barred
bv HE ecclesiastical position. whatever
# may be. from any right or privilege
OF American citizenship Tie may Free
ly exercise the right " choice as to
candidates for public office and express
his opinion. privately on publicly or 10
any way be pleases on a public meas
ure or tine suitability Of a nominee for
official position
The News does not advocate the
use OF any means TO ooerce compel OF
unduly influence voter, TO support d
proposition or person favored by a
Church leader or leaders. On the con-
trary It has always champIoned the
cause OF true liberty. civil and religious
At the present juncture this paper holds
aloof from an the cllQues factIons'com-
blnatlons ana intrIgues which are
struggling over the senatorial contest.
And we repeat our announcement that
We do not know u any Church cam
dldate" or Church order or 'Church
counsel" to members OF the LegIsla-
ture for the purpose Of controlling their
action,
As 10 charges that may be or have
been made OF efforts In that direction
and Of alleged bribery, we state em-
phatlcally that We have no informa-
ton whatever that anything Of the
kind has been attempted, and we do not
believe the reports that have been
raised. especially considering their
source which is not only OF the most
unreliable character, but has been re-
pcatedly demonstrated To be false ma
llclous and utterly Infamous.
Abuse rs no argument, blackguard-
ism no evidence, except as TO the stripe
OF bully that resorts TO f. We snail
pay no attention to that sort Of attack.
we hope our friends IN the Legislature,
and our readers everywhere. VIII un-
derstand that we simply claim the right
Tor them and for all other citizens Of
Utah. To think. act and vote freely for
such men and measures as they hon
cstly believe will be FOR the benefit OF
this State, and ask them TO exercise
that freedom. regardless Of the threats,
insults. determinations and accusations
OF disappointed candidates and their
aiders and abettors, whether they be
public newspapers OF private support
ers.
We do not know Of any choice that
has been expressed by the Church lead
ere, officially for the Office now beins
fought for. II there has been any such
expression Il has not been made or
conveyed TO u.s. To charge that II has
been given as "a command 10 the
faithful" IS to utter a palpable ana
ridiculous ialsehood, and exposes tho
animus OF the accuser, always existing
hut occasionally concealed for a pur-
pose.
But IN any event, the Deseret New
once more proclaims, that Il Is the
right Of every man In this Church ana
every other church I'm the land. 90
choose and advocate the qualifications
OF persons for office who appear TO him
the most suitable under the circum
stances as he understands them. This
right extends up 10 the highest officer
IN the Church. II is against endcavors
10 mugzle free speech and free choice
that We raise our protest. And We ask
every lover OF liberty In the State to
join with us, IA repudIatIng and stamp
ing out this perpetual bugaboo OF
Church influence always raised by
disappointed otice.seekers and wire.
pullers when defeat comes or stares
them IN the face