Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-06-23
VITALITY OF "MoRMoNIsM"

in the Century for June, by Ray Stan
nard Baker IN which It Is asserted that
the Mormon" church controls the poll
tics or az least 'holds the balance Of
political control" not only In Utah,
but IN Idaho, In Nevada and possibly
in Wyoming and Colorado with a strong
following In Arizona, Washington, and
other states. thus directing or at least
influencing. not few United States
Senators and tives," The Pu-
eblo Chieftain takes exception to the
statement SO far as Colorado is con-
cerned, and says;
"Tf the Mormon church holds the bal
ance OF power IN this state II is surely
a revelation to COloradoans Where Mr..
Baker finds any foundation for the
statement Is a matter for speculation.
But then Mr. Bakers peculiar state
ment may be a matter OF guessWork,
80 FAR as known.
There are Mormons In Colorado,
That much OF Mr. Bakers statement Is
correct. But that the sect holds the
balance NJ power political or otherwise,
IL an assertion so paipably absurd that
Coloradoans do not need demonstration
Of Its falsity. Where the misinforma-
ton may prove detrimental so far as
this state is concerned, IL In the minds
OF the large clientele OF Century read
ers who are sufficiently distant from
Colorado 20 he IN comparative Ignore
ance Of actual conditions IN this state
The Chleftain expresses regret that
Mr.. Baker has so woefully blundered.
We echo the sentiment, The gentleman
has given "A vivid description Of Nor
mon" settlements and due credit TO the
enterprise and foresight OF Brigham
Young and the Mormon" leaders, In
their great work Of planting civilization
IN the midst of desert. His descrlp-
ton Of Cache Valley and It's people Is
particularly excellent and there II this
much to be said concerning his contr-
button TO the Century; that what he
has seen ne describes accurately, and
errs only when he treats Of that which
ne imaglncs and that which has been
told him by others, Speaking Of Brig
ham Young he says
"He was great general, magnetic
leader OF crude though undenInble pow
err and shrewd lawglver We may
scout the idea that he was In truth a
divine prophet, but we may scarcely
deny him large gift Of the prophetic
imagination. lie was, perhaps. the
grossest matorialist OF his time, but he
got results. Though men of American
blood had never before attempted irri-
cation farming on large scale, though
the possibilities Of the arid country
were then undermined though the OBJ
stacles OF great distance from supply
centers, OF dangers from the Indians
and from famine were seemingly insur-
mountable, Brigham Young saw with
the eye OF Imagination an empire In
the midst of the Great Desert. and
such confidence did he place in his
visions that his faith bore up and in
spircd all his people. Natural power
Is not 40 common In the world that we
can afford TO refuse 1t recognition even
when lta exercise IL not unaccOmpanled
by glarlng abuses"
The sending out Of explorers to dis
tant, valleys and the planning Tor tho
extension OF Mormon settlements ut
various points, Mr.. Baker calls "the
matchless brayado Of tho dreamer"
Yet according to his own accounts
everything undertaken by that great
leader was practical and successful and
resulted In benent to the people, But
even this Mr. Baker characterlges as
"a sort Of diabolical shrewdness," and
talks OF his
Reaching out with coyetous hands
10 secure control Of all the water within
q hundred miles or more OF Great salt
Lake, knowing that this would give him
absolute command Of all the arabic
land make him supreme dictator of the
routes of travel and OF the sources OF
food supply
Yet Mr.. Baker must have seen, while
travelling In this region, that tho set
tiers own the land and the water hav-
ing individual titles, and that II was
not secured by any "covctous reaching
out" either Of Brigham Young or the
Mormon Church,
Mr. Bakers mistakes as to political
control Of the Mormon" church in
Colorado, as exposed by the Pueblo
Chieftain, are similar to those In ref
orence to other places. lie has evil
IDENTIFY obtained his mfomation(7D
from unreliable sources and he runs in
line with popular opinion When he
comes to matters under his own oh
seryaton Mr. Baker contradlcts the
common notions concerning the Nor
mons" After speaking very highly Of
tbc u-,rtg a,,,,,,,ttsh.l t,,s Tho ttNf,,.