The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-03-08
SENATOR CANNoN's CASE.

IN SOME RESPECTS the expulsion
1 OF Frank J. Cannon from member
ship in the Mormon church is re-
markable case. and its final outcome
viii be regarded with eager interest
by people in and outside the church.
For many years Mr.. Cannon was one
of the chief political factors in the
whole church organization. He was
an earnest effective advocate of its
cause in Washington before and after
statehood; he was one Of the potent
agents in the removal of the escheat
proceedings against church property
and It's restoration to the control OF the
church authorities: he was called into
the highest church councils when mat
tiers political were under discussion,
and his voice was always influential in
those councils. AS far back as the
time OF his own election to the United
States senate he showed his independ
ence by refusing TO withdraw his can
didacy atsthe eleventh hour TO make
way for the election Of his own dis
tinguished father, who had been Sc
lected by the church for that high Of
fee.
Since that first defiance. he has
steadily, but surely, lost favor. When
ne rented the salt Lake theatre for the
purpose of defying and denouncing
Apostle Heber J. Grant, who had been
active against him in the Democratic
senatorial campaign, there was little
question but that he would, eventually.
be found out of harmony with the rul-
ing authorities.
This last and final step is, therefore,
not unexpected. So far as the action
Involves a question of church disci-
pline. Mr.. Cannon has invited his SEN
ltence. He made charges, bitter
charges, against Joseph +. Smith, head
OF the church, who, to Mormon minds,
is the representative on earth of Divin-
it,
To the layman and nOn-member, the
form of the trial seems to have been
'superfiuous. Either Mr.. Cannon should
have been given a chance to prove his
charges and then disfellowshipped if
he saiied of proof; or else he should
have been expelled without the barren
|forniality of hearing in which he was
not offered an opportunity to produce
his evidence
a judicial form which lacks the sub
stance of justice could serve no posi-
bic end, while a flat dismissal without
bearing or reason assigned would have
|been received for what it was-the ar
|bitrary but expIainabie determinat ton
|of "a ruler TO punish a refractory sub
|ject.
At the risk of being misunderstood.
we are frank TO say>that it is always
bad strategy 10 ignore such charges as
Senator Cannon made. Unless he had
pretty strong evidence in support OF
This assertions his case must inevitably
|have fallen fiat If he had been asked to
present it. The most adroit advocate
could not escape condemnation If he
refused to show cause for his charges;
and there could have been no escape
from the disgrace attending false wit
ness if he had come short of the most
absolute evidence in support of his
position.
on the other hand, by a peremptory
dismissal. without any alternative OF
submission and repentance. and with
out any offer of a hearing which
should investigate the charges fully.
the public and the world at large are
left to draw their own conclusions as
Friendship or hostility may incline
them to one side or the other. If it is
Eao concern Of the church officials what
the outside world may believe, the line
|of policy adopted may be understood:
but if a grave charge or series of
charges is made by a man OF Cannon's
standing with no reply save excom-
tmunication, the outside world is like
b. to take for granted the worst con-
struction possible in minds already
brejudiced.
Whether Senator Cannon is being
PUNISHED solely for exercising freedom |
|pf speech. as he suggests, may or may
not be true; that is a question better |
determined by those familiar with !
church law and practice. But, unques- I
ionably, the world at large viii as
sumo that Senator Cannon has been |
tlSti pitt1eu 1bf MS OuiSpDkGffneSS, ana (
ne effect of his sentence Will be intu- |
.ious TO Utah at this particular juno |
|ure.
Naturally. the disinterested public /
wonders what bearing this summary
Expulsion viii have upon the aIl-ab- |
lsorbing Sroot case. VIII it help or |
hurt Smoot2 VIII it tend to soften the /
bitterness Of the hostility aroused !
lgainst the state by recent events? Is /
calculated to strengthen or weaken 4
he hold OF the Mormon church author
Eties upon the rank and file of their /
oeopie2 Upon the answers to these
questions depends in large measure the
whole future OF the church and state
here. as well as the final result Of the
Warfare Senator Cannon has initiated.
Kuropatkin seems about ready to
adopt a phrase once famous in South