Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-06-24
A POPULAR FALLACY.

There are many false and absurd mo-
lions concerning the beliefs and prac-
tses OF the people commonly called
"Mormons," but none Of them IS more
Incorrect than the popular fallacy about
Church diotatIon in politics. A vIgor-
Gus and wol-written endeavor to put
this matter right before the public VIII
be found In the June number OF that
excellent magazine, The Worlds Work,
The author tx said to be zone who
Knows" We could give n very good
guess as TO his Identity and we agree
with him IN most OF his explanations
and conclusions. viewed from a non
Mormon standpoint
It appears TO be almost waste Of
time and effort to try to correct public
opinion as to the genius and methods o.
the Mormon Church, and especially
as to It's attitude in reference to poltl-
cal affairs. While 1t Is true that the
Mormon" religion embraces secular as
well as spiritual duties and obligations,
and that It Is a religion for the body as
we'll as the spirit. for time az well as
for eternity and that II Is practical In
It's teachings, and influences humanity
in every phase Of existence. It Is not
true that the Mormon Church die
tates the politics OF It's members tells
them what or whom to vote for. or to
what party they shall belong This fact
has been stated repeatedly, but TO very
little purpose among people and papers
Yet It Is true that there are no religious
votaries under the sun who are more
perfectly free than the Latter-day
Saints or "Mormons.' The writer In
The Worlds Work puts the matter in
this way:
TN reality, there has not been in
Utah much Church dictatlon In poll
ties there Is, and Will continue to be. a
vast deal OF church influence Presl-
dent Joseph II. Smith OF the Mormon
Church II doing everything in his power
20 keep the Church out OF politics. but
neither he nor any other man viii ever
be able to Danish church influence. In
deed, there would be church influence
In Utah II there were no Mormons
there, and Catholics or Methodlsts, or
Presbyterlans. or Lutherans prepon-
derated as Mormons do now"
II all depends upon what is meant by
the term Church influence" II a
Mormon" belonging to a given polite
al party exercises his rlgSts and privi-
le8es as citizen az the polls on the
platform, or through the press In behalf
OF his party or It's principles, Is II fair
or logical TO call that Church IN
fluence7" II 80, then II Is equally right
TO apply the same term TO the acts OF a
Methodist, Baptist, an EpIscopallan, a
Catholic or jew We contend that
no Mormon forfelts any political
right or privilege by becoming a
preacher or holding an ecclesiastical Of
fce, for such n position Is not to bt
viewed In the same light as that oc
cupied by the established clergy I'm The
several religious denominations. II q
Mormon" Elder. Bishop or Apostle en-
deavors to exercise undue influence
over the minds Of Church members, n
the way OF Church dictatlon or coercion
or any kind OF domination. 1t would b,
wrong and contrary to Mormon doc
trine and discipline, Simply as a citl
zen, every Mormon" no matter wha
his position In the Church has equa
rights with a non Mormon" just tina
and nothing more
The article to which we have referred
shows very clearly from undenabl,
Utah history that In many instances
prominent churoh-men have been de
feated at the polls by non" Mormon
candidates He gives names and par
ticulars. These are only samples o
many others that might be mentioned
That "Gentiles' have sought for anC
endeavored to obtain Church innuenc,
10 forward their political aspirations
rs he asserts, Is undoubtedly true, Blu
that they have ever secured II IL an
other matter and Is not substantiate,
by proof, The writer Of that article re-
marks:
1.-THE cry of "church influence" Il
raised after every convention and ever,
election. The defeated candidate finds
convenient excuse for his failure In IN,
assertion that he was beaten through
church influence
Every person acquainted with the SIT
uation In Utah knows this to be cor
rect As to reported remarks by leadInl
Church officials said to have been mad