Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-03-02
THE GENTlLE,s SIDE.

The testimony before the senate
committee which investigated the
Smoot affair was of such nature that
even those who thought the conditions
in Utah we're bad were lulled to a
sense of security and safety Promi-
nent "Gentiles, 1.-THE term used to apply
to those in Utah who are not Nor
mons, testified before the investigat-
ing committee and their evidence was
In favor of the church. At any rate
they did not say that it's existence and
growth is a menace to the state of
Utah and the people who do not belong
to the Mormon church. The testimony
also tended to show that the practice
of polygamy among the Mormons is
dying out and has not for several
years been worthy of much note.
To counteract this impression, how
ever, there comes from the Gentiles
cry for help, protest that the testi-
mony before the Smoot committee Of
investigation was untrue The reason
for false testimony by Gentiles is said
to be that the Mormons had threat
ened the prospective witnesses before
they went to Washington, telling them
that dire results awaited their testify
ing in a way that would create an i'm
preston unfayorable to the Mormon
church.
The Salt Lake Tribune, the chief
Gentle organ in Utah, published re-
Gently long editorial. with the single
word. Help" at the head. It told of
a secret meeting of twelve men in
Salt Lake City. The editor declares
that they met at the call of one man
and that the call brought together
twelve Of the leading business and
Professional men in Utah. After free
expression of opinion all around the
circle, the gentleman who had con-
vened the conference submitted a
memorandum of existing conditions. 1t
was, though couched in terms that be-
spoke precision and even restraint. a
terrific document. A few running quo
tations will indicate its tone and the
character Of the complaint which it
embodied:
AS now utilized, statehood is but a
protection to the Mormon hierarchy.
= The hierarchy holds itself SUI
perior to constitution and law. It is
spreading plural marriage and plural
marriage practice through the ranks
of the church. Through its agents it
dominates the politics of the state and
of every county and city in the state.
1t exerts such sway over officers
of the law that the hierarchy and it's
favorites cannot be touched by the
hand of justice. 1t is master of the
state legislature and the governor. =
= It=dominates every line of business
Inv Utah except mines and railroads. =
y sit holds nearly every Gentle mer-
chant and nearly every Gentle pro-
fessional man at it's vengeance by it's
influence over patronage which he
must have in order to be successful.
- 1t corrupts every Gentle who is
affected by either fear or venality. y
= Every Gentle who refuses to tes-
tify at its request and in its behalf be-
comes marked and endangered man
In the community = The Gentiles
who have gone to Washington to tes-
tify for Smoot are aware of this fact"
And finally, the conclusion to which
this tremendous indictment leads, was
forcibly and solemnly stated thus:
Unless the GentiIes Of Utah shall
soon be protected by the power of the
United States, they will suffer either
ruin or exile at the hands of the hier-
archy."
The Tribune says none of the twelve