Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-11-28
To the Editor;

To the Editor;
The action OF the politicians in the
First district in organizing bolt from
the regular citizens convention calls
for complete review. Its animus has
been and still is a pretense that Nor
mon" Church influence had been
brought to bear upon the members OF
that organization In order to control
the board of education, and the COM
mon and High school management
The facts relative TO the candidacy of
Mr.. Byron Cummings are these:
Several personal friends asked him
II he would become a candidate for the
school board. specifically because In
the first place, he was eminently fitted
for its functions, IN the second, being
non" Mormon" his candidacy would
avoid the animus Of having been in
spired by Mormon" Church authori-
ties.
Mr.. Cummings took the matter un-
der adyisement and consulted first with
the leading Gentiles Of his district,
stating to them that he desired II un-
derstood that he was not and would
not be Influenced by sectarian or po-
litiCal considerations In case he were
elected, and that his candidacy had
| been proposed by his friends on purpose
| TO avoid the Mormon Church contro-
| versy that unfortunately has arisen.
| Many OF his Gentle friends who later
| have been Instrumental In stirring up
| this controversy agreed to support him.
| Mr.. Cummings asked my opinion con-
| corning Il, and | advised that ne feel
| quietly around for few days among
the citizens, Gentle and Mormon"
and learn whether he would be receive
| ed In sufficient force to be elected, In
single day his friends could feel the
anti-"MOrmon" animus proceeding
from the political wheel horses Of the
district
Some Gentle friends who had
| promised support began 20 hedge
urging Church influence as their
reason. A day later. the word
had passed along and the nerv-
GUS Gentiles We're stampeded into
panic, and the candidacy Of Mr.. Cum
mings became obscured by all the ven-
ON that malignancy could imagine or
inspire. AS | had become interested In
looking after Mr.. Cummings interests
In the eastern portion OF This district,
and ~. T., 5. Meycock and other
friSnds interested themselves In other
portions. It practically left the general
| management OF his canvass in the
hands OF these friends and myself.
In three or four days the antl-"MOr.
mon" clsmor had reached height that
Informed US that We must either with
draw Mr.. Cummings or must look to
"Mormons' for the strength to elect
him. Together we took measures for
an active canvass among the Nor
mons ] myself engaged n couple OF
Mormon" friends TO canvass from
house to house and make our candi-
dates Intentions clear. The other
friends 81 Mr.. Cummings went ener-
geticaly to work In the same drec.
ton. and In the same way. In other por-
tons Of the district. That our work
was Unexpectedly easy, and our sue
cess complete, the opposition have their
own malignant stupidity 10 thank. and
II the Mormon" Church had anything
10 do with the situation, then Mr.. Nav
cock, his friends and myself are The
church" | am positively certain. from
the activity ~ my own canvass among
the Mormon" people that the Church
authorities could not even have known