Truth. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1901-1908, 1905-12-16

full religious organization in the
world to standstill in a community
where antagonism usually means So
cial ostracism and financial ruin.
The story of Senator Kearns' great
fight and victory is an interesting one.
1t brings out well the characteristics
of the man himself; his resourceful-
ness and unbending will. The same
qualities which made Kearns one of
the richest men in the country and |
enabled him to rise from the position
of poor pillow boy to a seat in the
senate were the factors that figured |
in the defeat of the church.
Power Of the Church.
Persons who have never lived in
Utah can not well understand the con-
ditions that made 1t seemingly i'm
possible to put the government Of af-
fairs into the hands of men who
would administer the offices for the
interests of the whole people rather
than for the interests of the church
The Mormon church is the most
perfect organization of its kind ex-
istent. President Joseph F. Smith
holds the votes of his people in the
hollow of his hand. A system of
stakes, or districts, and further di-
vision of these stakes, enable the
president to keep directly in touch
with every member Of the organiza-
ton. In Salt Lake there are two
Mormon teachers for every block.
They answer to church officers a lit
tie higher up who, in turn, are re-
sponsible to the apostles. The apos-
ties then report direct to President
Smith In the past it has been pos
sible for the president to throw an
election within six hours before the
polls are opened, SO perfect is the
working of the system. instructions
are generally given out at the Sun
day meeting preceding election, and
If the president changes his mind he
calls in his apostles, and within
few hours the orders have been coun-
fernandez and every voter instruct
ed. Up to the present campaign 1t
was conceded as fact that President
Smith could elect any man he desired
for any office in the city, county or
state, and that he could force any
Mormon candidate to withdraw at any
time in favor of the man he might
want elected.
The Mormon church has secured
control of the light and water plants,
the street railway systems, most OF
IHe ltTB6 eHItIDIloco, anu hdo toi7
trolled the granting of franchises in
the state in the interests of the
church Gentiles had almost given up
hope of mastering this all-powerful
hierarchy, and many in disgust were
selling out their interests and leaving
the state. Conditions had become al
most unbearable; the belief was gen.
eral that. Utah could never elect
United States senator who would be
secure in his seat at Washington and
give the state the representation to
which she is entitled. The growth
of the state was seriously threatened,
as 1t has always been Mormon prln-
ciple to keep Utah for the Mormons"
and discourage the GENTLE settler or
investor.
-N kearns' Great Fight.
During his term in the senate Mr..
Kearns had done more for the state
than all the former senators together.
Practically everything granted to
Utah by the federal government was
secured through his personal efforts.
He was an indefatigable worker, and
he got the results. The people want
ed him returned to the senate, but he
absolutely refused to bend his knee to
the church in order to gain its sup
port Mr.. Kearns had long been
watching the development of the po-
Iffoo1 ~ ha oh,