The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-10-11

0EPEATED charges by former Sen
II ator Frank J. Cannon that Nor
mon church influence had been
used for political purposes in Utah and
neighboring states furnished the chief
interest at the mass convention Of the
American party in the Salt Lake thea
tire yesterday afternoon. The candi-
dates for legislative county and city
Offices were unanimously chosen as rec
commended by the nominating commit
tee.
The lower floor and first balcony Of
the house were filed and the second
balcony was about half filed while
Senator Cannon was speaking. His sew
eral appeals to the body of the house
for confirmation Of his statements
added to the interest of the speech, es-
pecially as his appeals met with a neg
ative response once or twice.
Generally, however his points met
with hearty applause. from the time
when, early i'm the address. ne said he
couId tell who was using church infiu-
ence by watching the ones who ducked
their heads when il was mentioned,
until ne closed with bit of rhyme in
spired by the admission Of Utah 10
statehood.
Cannon's Address.
After some general statements lea1-
ing up to his subject, Senator Cannon
said:
We are charged with Iaving no rea-
son for existence. one time there was
witty French preacher who said in
his Sunday sermon: Now ] am go
ing 10 throw my breviary at the head
of the woman who disobeyed her Eus-
band last week" Instantly several wo-
men in the congregation ducked their
heads. Every obedient wife looked the
preacher square i'm the eye. conscious
that she was not meant. Tt was only
those who feared that duclyed. And
whenever we use the word church in
fluence i'm Utah We know who has been
using it by watching the men VINO
duck their heads.
We have numerous faults which are
recorded and proclaimed by those ever
watchful friends of ours who, accori-
ing TO Chairman Nye. are not aware ct
our existence They tell Us that we are
so large that We VIII EOld the balance
o. power: and then the Democrats tell
US that but for Us they were assured
Of Democratic isUCcesS-Which has been
So certain for the CGst eight years
They tell US that the movement is mop
perfume. as Chairman Daly las re-
marked. Utah gave $1,000 Democratic
majority i'm 1896 and in six years ii
slipped over to 5000 Democratic minor
ity. When would il have become OPP
perfume to organize this party2 When
there was not a Democrat left? The
fact is that the ecclesiastical party
was in partnership with the Republican
/ party of Utah. and lad the Democrats
| scared to death.
Boost For Kearns.
They tell us that we are led by a
lot of disgruntIed office seekers That
: the men and women who are here 20
| day are the creatures of one man Who
wants to so back to the United states
senate AS he is absent from Utah 7
/ dare to mention him. Hon. Thomas
( Kearns. Strange 70 say. the DeoD' %
who tell US that he IS a wicked sChe7ner
and that he has US oreahized in order
/ TO lead us into. his camp. are the very
meHwho picked him out four years ago
/ IN poake him a senator from Cfai-. I
I liked Mr. kea rms I'm those days for old
I sake's sake. 7 have watched him dur
/ ing four wears and ] have seen shat
/ he has been growing bigger and
1 stronger. that his ideals have been ad-
Ndncing. step by sfeD. l don't think
! that Re controls this party. Bnt I
/ think he is big enough TO be one OF file
I great factors i'm it. He showed what
( he thought of Utah when he offered
/ uDOn the altar TIE other day al hone
\ of going back to the senate. and did
I il for the sake of winning a new tan
( her freedom. I don't like some or
I the criticisms that are made Of him.
/ and I am going to take YOU INTO my
| confidence about him.
Thomas Kearns Is not an i9nora-
: mus as some Of the advocates OF
4 Smootism now say. OF the two men
! representing Utah in the senate. I be-
/ lieve Thomas Kearns is possessed Of
more intellectual power than the other
( man. Place before the two any proDn-
/ sition requiring intelligence and abil-
1 itv and see which OF the two would
! win a greater and quicker result. You
/ know as well as I do that Mr.. Kearns
! has been growing hour by hour since
I he took upon him tlis great trust. He
| shines bv comparison. YOu can 60
into the details Of service in the United
! States senate. service for the state aud
! for the nation. and YOU can determine
/ for yourselves which Of the two Sena-
tors is possessed Of ability and incii-
nation to do things far the public good
| The record is imperisiable that Sena :
/ tor kearns has accom- ished mere 81
! the great things demau led 81 a sena-
/ tor in the same lengthtof ame tnan
has his colleague And he shows his
superior devotion now 4 ttEe state ne
loves, saen he offers free as a sacfi-
fee any aspiration Of his qNn 20 con-
= tinue in public life that Vie freedom