The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-10-03
AXT0N'S JOKE
ON REPUBLICANS
Tells Ministerial Association of
Convention Humor.
RAKED OVER THE GOALS
HIS ADVOCACY OF NORTH DEP
RECATED.

n EV. JOHN T, AxToN says it was
n a joke, but his brother ministers
do not see it that way. Mr. AK
ton declares that il was only his bub-
bling humOr that prompted him to
work on the floor OF the Republican
county convention for Jacob Moritz.
brewer and saIoonkeeper and owner of
the gin milf where a tragedy oc-
Cured a short time ago on Sunday.
/ This huge joke, however, has brought
down the wrath OF the ministers. and
at the meeting of the Ministerial Al
lance at the Y. Nj. c. A. auditorium
last Monday Rev, Mr., Axton was
roasted TO a turn for his alliance with
Moritz. Mr.. AXton was acting secre-
tary OF the meeting al the time, and
a highly eXpurgated account of the
proceedings reached the newspapers
the next day. Despite the efforts to
keep the matter quiet, IT leaked out
yesterday.
The feeling ran so high that a resO-
luton of censure was considered. but
was not introduced One minister, who
was absent from the session. said yes
terday that had he been present he
would certainly have pushed such a
resolution. He failed to see the humor
of the situation.
The storm came suddenly. After the
regular business had been transacted
the ministers began TO discuss infor-
mally the Republican nominations. The
placing of Jacob MoritZ, owner of more
saloons than any other man in town,
at the head of the legislative ticket,
caused instant comment. Then 1t was
noted that Rev. John Z. Axton, men,
Der Of the association. had taken the
floor during the convention and moved
to close the nominations and vote for
Moritz and Williams. The ministers
began to fire a volley." They scored
Mr.. Axton for letting his zeal for the
SmQot- Kearns machine carry him into
active public work for a dive owner"
They minced no words in expressing
their opinions OF him.
Rev. Clarence 7. Brown. who was
sponsor for Mr.. Axton in his ordina-
ton az a minister of the Congregation
al church, was especially severe in his
criticisms. DIR. W, NJ Paden, Rev.
Josiah Mccain. Rev Richard Wake.
the chairman, and others spoke in de-
nunciation OF both MoritZ and his sup
porter, Rev. John T. Axton.
Then Mr. Axton sought 20 explain.
1T was only joke" said he.
There was lull in the proceedings
at the convention. said Mr.. Axton.
Several nominations had been made
and he knew more were to follow. But
Moritz and w. N. Williams had been
placed before the convention, and so
he, purely for joke, moved that the
nominations be closed and that the
convention proceed 10 ballot for Moritz
and Williams. Mr.. Axton made the
plea usual with a man who finds him
self in the hole, that the newspaper
accounts were inaccurate. and pro-
ceeded to enlarge on the broad humor
there was in his action.
1T was a sorry joke" shot Rev.
Clarence T. Brown at him.
The ministers then turned TO the
subject OF Moritz himself and ha1
nothing good to say OF him.
while | regret very much that such
situation has arisen," said a minis
ter yesterday Il think It is only JUS
tice to the other ministers of the as
ISOLATION that IL should be shown they
do not acquiesce by silence in the at
tiude of Brother Axton. a member of
the association. To say the least, he
does not show a sense OF the resoon-
sibihtles OF his position as minister
when he supports a saloonkeeper like
MOritz simply because Of his Obliga-
tiOns TO Senator kearns."