Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-09-03
RIGHTS or MORMON CITIZENS.

ing part IN the quarrel among itPu"-
leans in that State over the office OF as
seyer In charge at Boise, It IS an i'm
portant Office. in the eyes OF politicians,
because II Is lucrative, and the present
incumbent whose resignation is de.
handed, has occupied Il for seven
years and expected 10 continue In 1t
indefinitely for the reason. as stated
ard published by his defenders'
MT cunningham had proved him.
self a highly efficient officer His con.
tributions TO the Republican campaign
funds had always been prompt and lD-
eral and his devotion 20 the party loyal
and unswervlrg"
The Boise Capital News makes this
rcjoinder TO that plea:
IN The contest over the office OF
United states assayer, Mr. Cunning
ham presented to Senator Hepburn no
other claim for retention IN the once
other than the evidence that he hed
made prompt contribution to the
Republican campaign fund. The pub
lie Is left III the dark as to now muon
Mr. Cunningham contributed, Tnet
gentleman evidently thought II suf-
term at the purr.c crib
with this contention and with the
question of an alleged trade by which
Mr.. Hepburn was to receive certain
support in the election for United
States Senator in exchange for some
Offices including that Of assayer, the
Descret Ncws has nothing to do, What
ever of fact there may be as to the
purpoited transaction, II ls certain that
the Mormon" Church had no part or
lot in the matter. We state this most
positively, and our reason for doing so
Is the attempt that is made, as usual,
10 drag In the Church az the cause
whenever dlsappointments occur In po-
lItical circles In this region.
We recur to the subject because the
Boise Statesman one OF the Oldest and
ATTEST Ct the Idaho papers, after de-
voang much space TO the controversy,
taking the ant-Heyburn side, now
narrows the dispute down TO this fea-
ture of the squabble.
Senator on this question have no fight
on the Mormon Church as such. They
recognize fully all It's rights as a
Church organization and the rights of
those who are affiliated with H. What
they object TO is the elevation OF min.
listers Of that Church to public position
enabling them while drawing salaries
firm the public treasury, 10 continue
their Church work, That Is all there
is TO It; and the objections raised In the
Wco'ley case apply with equal force
20 any otter church organization. II l.
a general demurrer TO ministers, OF any
denomination, being given political po-
sitlon while continuing their labors az
church 0ignltarles,"
In response to that, the BoIse Capita
News, which Is usually spicy and per
tinent on all current matters. re.
sronds in this way
senator Heyburns offense now /,
that he chose a Bishop for a political
office. And o minister OF any othei
church would have proven as objection
able ag Bishop Wooley. How like q
summer freeze win this criticism
bamy Cdolous OF spices In IT. sweet
mes, overcome the Senator Nothinl
more OF the dIsreputable bargain 10y
which the Bishop herded the votes 0I
his people" In a body, thus LANDING
Hepburn In the senate; nothing mor'
of great anti-Mormon uprising In tn,
ranks Of the Grafters own Party
nothing more Of the missionaries dolnl
guard duty at the penltent,ary; moth
ing more Of any or all NJ this, WheI
one considers that the Bshons OF the
Mormon Church earn their cwn Twins
I'm some secular employment, the shut
ting of the door Of official prefermen
must he based upon something besides
the clerical position"
We touch further on this matter be-
cause it involves a question that ought
to be settled for good. II Is this
Shall the doors Of political Office b,
closed against members Of a particula
religious body, and the warning b.
posted over them, "No Mormon nee,
apply?" That is the wish and purpos
Of those rabid and blgoted politician
who are nothing II not anti-"Mormon,
The Statesman may reply that It Is on
~ "the elevation OF ministers Of tha
Church to public position" that is oh
jected TO- But the Statesman ought t,
know, after all the years Of fits ao
quantance with the "Mormons," tina
what the Capital News says on tina
point is true And more than that, IN
male members Of this Church are al
ministers" n old enough to address
mn audience, and they are also proselyt
ers when opportunity offers, So tina
the statesman's rule would shut on
every Mormon but women from pub
lie office.
Another point that paper should Sc
u.s. that Mr., Wooley, in moving t
Boise to accept q promised appoint
ment, resigned his position as Blsho
and his resignation was accepted an
the place was filed So that he Is no
TO have political position while con
tlnulng his labors as Church dignl
tary' It's attempt at argument O
this subject, then, falls not and withou
application to the mooted subject
one OF the first commandments give
TO this Church was let every ma
who Is warned, warn his nelghbor." TIL
Mormon ministry Is not a paid elias
OF religious workers Its Bishops ar
selected usually because OF their prac
teal ability fl temporal matters relat
ing TO Church affairs, ana they 10 no