Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-09-02
METHODIST POLITICIANS.

We give place in another part of this
paper to an article from the Pocatello
Tribune. which very clearly and tenn
perately presents subject that has
been agltatlng the politicians of Idaho,
and more particularly certain circles of
them In Boise, Perhops we should
have made no special reference to 1t,
but for the part taken in the contro-
very by the Methodist conference at
Boise.
Bishop Hamilton OF San Francisco,
president OF the conference and head
OF the Methodist church in the Vest
delivered himself of TRADE against
what he characterized az "a move
ment by religious organization to con-
troll the State" The portion OF his
remarks understood 90 have reference
to the appointment Of Mormon TO
responsible government position, and
which were responded to by loud
"Amens,r and said TO have been 'en-
dorscd by every member OF the con-
ference were not only published in
tptVHi uiSpluy ny l''"i P"PNiS b"N
were telegraphed to this city as fol-
lows;
There 10 one matter that involves
some principles which are profound
and on which this church has never
occupied q double position. When II Is
charged that movement IL on foot
by any religious Organization 10 control
state, II is time for the Methodist
church to- be on Its feet, battling for
the principles Of American patriotism
The state must be kept separate from
all religious organizations
I'VE at once and unhesitatlngly and
unanimously protest against the at
tempt OF any church to take control OF
political offices. There can be no mid
die ground on such a questln. 1t Is OPP
Toscd 10 all principles OF Americanism
and Mothodlsm when any organiza-
ton calling itself religious, attempts
to insinuatc itself into politics Aineri-
can patriotism is aroused, Methodsm,
which stands for patriotism aud AmerI-
oanisrn, Is aroused and II becomes the
duty OF every patriot to strive against
such contamination"
Nov what Is all this about? Simply
that among number OF changes In the
incumbency of several offices In Idaho,
was that OF assayer in charge, which
had been occupied, for several years,
by gentleman who had filled political
offices as long as some members OF
his party thought quite sufficient. Sen.
ntor Hepburn. 1t appears, has recon-
mended the appointment of H. Smith
Woclley for the position, and the
friends and supporters OF the incum.
mcnt and opponents OF the Senator,
have raised the objection that Mr..
Woolley is a Mormon" and also a
Bishop.
or course that is awful to contem-
plate, and the San Francisco Methodist
leader had to lift his California voice,
In a religious conference, against such
dreadful movement" IN Idaho The
report of his remarks In the Boise pa
pers as well as dispatches to this city
state that "he referred indirectly to
The case OF Bishop Woolley of the
Mormon Church." and there was no
mistakng the meaning Of his words
and their application to present condi.
tons In Idaho" It is further stated
that:
The conference took no formal action
on the Woolley matter the members
hesltatlng about taking the initiative
preferring 10 have Bishop Hamilton
SPEAK for the church as a body Any
action taken by the conference Itself
they held, might be construed as In
sular and thereby lose It's force. hut a
direct expression from the Blshop
would be TO them command which
must be obeyed,"
The facts in the case are these: Mr..
Woolley, who is quite a young man but
very practical and capable, figured ac-
lively as n Republican when residing
In Bear Lake county, Idaho. on remov.
ing TO Pocatello, where he occupied an
Important business position with recog-
nized ability, he was chosen Bishop OF
the ward there He was very active in
the building of the Westinghouse and
In all the affairs of the Pocatelo
ward, and was honorably released on
resigning, to remove TO Boise, where he
expects TO receive the appointment
which has so aroused the Methodist
conference. OF course, the Church Office
that he held in Pocatcllo has TO be
thrust TO the front, though that It has
anything 10 do with the work OF gov
eminent assayer does not very clearly
appear TO a dlsinterested mind.
Bishop Hamilton has been made the
catspaw of the clique OF politicians at
Boise who do not march In the Hey.
burn ranks. The preachers IN confer.
ence were cunning in their generation,
and allowed their leader to not only to
put his foot into the political pot, but TO
10 head-over- heels into the SETTLING
pool of local contention. What evi.
dences has he that the Mormon"
Church had anything TO do with the
nomination Of Mr. Woolley 10 the post
for which he has been recommended ?
The suggestion has not come from any
authority In this Church Nor has
there been any attempt Of the kind
intimated to control the State of Idaho
Bishop Hamilton has simply exposed
his own ignorance ana folly and wiling.
ness to be made the tool OF a Boise fac
ton In state politics
Now, has b. not sense enough TO see
that he has been guilty OF the very
wrong which he falsely charges