Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-08-11
THE POSITIVE PROOFS.

rs the attempt has been revived by
persistent defamers Of the Mormon
church. to inhame the public mnd at
distance from Utah with the false
hood that the Mormon" religion Is and
has been taught IN the public schools OF
the state, It has become necessary to
touch once more on this stale subject
and show the utter untruth OF the
charge
The question has been asked, Did
not State Superintendent a. c, Nell
son. IN his testimony before the Senate
committee on privileges and elections
state that nc had found more than 300
OF the religion classes being held
in the public schoos2' In reply to
this query we can do no better than
quote from the official report, as issued
by the government, the questions and
answers that bear on this matter:
Mr., Tayler In how many school
buildings, Nh, Nelson, do you find re-
liglon classes carried on2
MIR Nelson, Well, | have found some
more than 800 Of those classes being
held IA schools. The Information dis
closes that classes are always held at
ter the dismissal Of school
Mr. Tayer Do YOU learn that any
OF them are held as early as halt past
two IN the afternoon?
Mr., Nelson. Yes, sir; from go until
e. the information is,
Mr., Worthington. Does that mean
the class begins nc those hours, or sits
in those hours?
Mr., Nelson, The schools close from
those hours-from 1880 to 4-and the
classes SO into session Immediately az
ter adjournment
Mr.. Tayler, II the schools adjourn
at 2:30 then the religion class would
commence Immediately after?
Mr.. Nelson. Would go into session,
yes, sir with perhaps an interval Of
five or ten minutes.
Mr.. Tayler II they adjourn Mt g.
then would come the religion CLASP
Mr.. Nelson. Yes page $3.50
Mr. Nelson. I would like to make a
statement In regard to this so that the
| committee may understand the whole
situation
The Chairman Go on Mr. Nelson.
Mr.. Nelson. Shortly after my cleo
| ton IN visiting the schools OF Wa
| satch county I'm company with Super
| iutendent Arid, after school discovered
! that q religion class was being conduct
| ed In the public fchoolhouse. | called
| the superiniendents attention to the
| fact, and he concurred with me most
| heartily In thinking Il was a violation
| OF the spirit Of the Constitution Of the
! state on my arrival at Salt Lake City
/ tFtt Ia al La,
| regard "a the matter and I found that
! according TO the section Of law, he en-
! tertained the idea that there was MOTH
! ing IN the use Of the schoolhouse for
| that purpose that was contrary 10 the
statutes of the state Of Utah. lie go
| Informed me, by reading section 1929 OF
the Revised Statutes Of Utah
Mr.. Tayler. / have lt here, n YOU
J have n there read Il,
MI Nelson / have II here,
"Tr--
The school board / presume
MAY permit schoolhouse when not
occupied for school purposes, to be used
for any purpose which win not Inter-
fore with the seating on other furniture
or other property. and shall make such
charges Tor the use OF the same as
they may decide 10 be Just but Tor any
surh use or privilege the district shall
not be no any expense Tor fuel or other
WISE ~ BID
Mr. Van Cott The attorney general
is an elective oflcer'
Mn Nelson Yes. sir.
Mr. van Colt Is no a Gontlc2
Mr. Nelson. Yes. sir
Mr. Van Colt. And always has beer?
Mr. Nelson. I think SO: ycs. SIR
Mr. Van Colt Lster on &c was again
called 10 your attention?
Mr. Nelson ] think 10 has been cali
cd 20 my attention before this year but
] knew the attorney generals attitude
on the question.
Mr. Van Colt Did you 60 TO the at-
torney-Eener1l the second timer
Mr. Nelson Yes slr. : have discuss
ed the question With the attorney gem
| eral "A great many times
Mr. Van Colt. 10 you know whether
the attorney general has modified his
views as to the legality OF holding
these religion classes In the public
school huildings2
Mr. Nelson, The attorney-eeneral
called me just a few moments before
! ! boarded the train for Washington.
and / read this letter 10 him I had
called on him previously. but could not
find him IN. read the letter over the
telephone lie said THAT sounds very
wen. and It IS written quite we'll; but b"
he said. you may state 20 the senate
committee on investigation that / am
still OF the opinion, Notwithstanding
your document that the school boards
have a legal right 10 permit the use OF
the school buildings FOR religion class
purposes when there rs an interval be-
tween the adjournment 81 school and
the taking up Of the clasR." (p. 31l)
II viii be seen from the foregoing
that with the exception OF that slip Of
the tongue by superintendent Nelson,