Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-09-26
Mistellaaeuils Rmdins,
UTAH AND THE MoRMoNs.
Latter Day Saints Have Made Won.
derful Country of Desert.
~ -

Latter Day Saints Have Made Won
derful Country Of Desert.
! Correspondents Of the Yorkyills Enquirer.
SALT LAKE CITY. Utah, September
I7.-Some time ago President Joseph
+. Smith of the Mormon church had
| an interview with Mr.. Henry Hall of
the Pittsburg Times, and in that in
lerview President Smith claims con-
cerning the Apostle Reed Smoot contro-
versy that the church Of Jesus Christ
Of Latter Day Saints had no direct
voice In the election Of Apostle Smoot
to the u. s. senate; that the church
did not direct nor attempt to direct
who should be elected to the senate
from the state of Utah.
President Smith claims that he may
have voted for some Of the legislators
who In turn supported Smoot. but that
he as the head Of the Mormon church
did not shout for Mr.. Smoot rom the
mountain tops" and was not solely in
strumental In his election. President
Smith claims that he could not have
compelled any member Of his church
to support Mr.. Smoot for the latter be-
ing Republican certainly was not sup
ported by either Apostles Winder or
Penrose. because they are Democrats
Republican legislature that voted for
Smoot for senator.
| These Mormons are divided politically
about half and half, and the Democrats
voted against Smoot. President Smith
claims that the Republican party of
| Utah-and that only elected Smoot to
the U. S. senate, Furthermore the
church had nothing to do with his
/ elo ction.
Reed Smoot is an Apostle and the
church claims that there Is nothing in
| that fact incompatible with his holding
Il any civil office: and he was not the
first Mormon elected to congress. Geo.
q. Carmon, an Apostle, served several
terms In congress as a delegate from
the Territory Of Utah.
The church of Latter Day Saints
claims that one Of its beauties and ex-
cellencies Is that there Is not a man
In 1t, high or low, who has not some
interest or pursuit from which to earn
his own living and that of those de-
pendent on him. He does not have to
live by the passing Of the hat" nor by
tithing; but I may add just here that
my observation Is that the church holds
It's strong membership and individual
i:y by the tithe system.
The Bible tells us plainly of our duty
along that line-the giving of one tenth
and I plainly say that / believe the
Mormons adhere more closely to the
one tenth system than do the Gentiles
here In Utah.
/ The Mormons believe strenuously in
every man earning his own living.
President Smith claims that his right
hand man Gan Apostle) and his first
counsellor Is a farmer and has been
for years and a man who has raised as
much farm produce as any man In
Utah: he Is a stock raiser also and II
go to John r. Winder and buy II.
The church claims that 1t looks af-
tier the temporal as well as the
spiritual. welfare of its people and
that while 1t prep. res them a home
In the Far Beyond II aids them to
happy homes while here on earth.
The Mormons claim that they were
driven from their former habitations
and were really destitute so they
came here 1000 miles from nearest
civilization to make new homes. The
church Of the Latter Day Saints
says that 1t was absolutely necessary
that the authorities should take hold
Of and help the people and minister
as far as possible to their wants
President Brigham Young started
the methods. He established woolen
mills, tanneries, nail factories and
other industries. Everything before
had to be hauled by teams (no rail-
roads them 1000 miles across the
plains and merchants charged the
Mormons unmercifully-100 to 500
per cent being common as profit
to the merchants. They claim that
they paid as high as SIS per hundred
weight for nails and our guide told
us that they had no nails when. the
tabernacle was built-the heavy tim
bers being put together with pins
through auger notes.-the lighter
timbers being spliced with leather
and deer hide strings.
President Young started the Zion's
Cooperative Mercantile Institution
not to make money for the church
they claim, but to prevent the people
from paying such exorbitant prices
charged for merchandise. The Nor
mons were at first doubtful about
taking stock In the enterprise. having
failed some time before In q sugar
business. but by persistence 1t was
organized. The church owned some
stock at the beginning to boost the
thing along but is scarcely in the
business today. Gentiles hold 25 to
80 per cent Of the stock now.
I believe the day will come when
Gentiles will own by far the better
part of Salt Lake City. but l doubt
II the Mormons will ever again have
to move out on account Of poverty.
They are hard workers and attend to
their own business as far as / could
see and learn.
r. ]. HERNDoN.