Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-06-16

Dc candidates favored by TIE ruling
authorities OF that Church are generally
elected.
The fact that gentiles are sometimes
elected to Office IN preference to Nor
mons In localities where the MormOns
are In tho ascendency does not tend 70
prove the absence Of church influence.
II Is shown by the testimony that the
officials OF the Mormon Church some
times prefer one Mormon 10 another
ard sometimes prefer a gentle 20
Mormon. So Well is 10 understood IN
Itch that the power OF the Mormon
Church in political adGiIs must De rec
o2uzed aud deferred 20 that IN the cleo
tim OF senators and OF other officials
the MorW0ns must De given what they
claim as their share OF the Offices 20 be
filed.
IN order 10 realize the potency Of the
Influence which the ruling authorities
o., the Mormon Church exercise IN po-
liGJIl affairs il must he kept in mind
that this influence proceeds from men
vino are believed By their followers to
De oracles OF God. that whatsoever
they speak Is the word Of Cod and
that The first presidency OF The Nor
mon Church ana the council OF the
tNeive apostles are the mout1piece
Of God. ln the efforts put forth by
the rulers Of the Church % defeat
Moses Thatcher. the Mormon people
we're told that the tlrst presidency and
II OF the apostles were inspired and
that Moses Thatcher. the twelfth apes
he. was not inspired
The committee has not overlooked nor
fgHed TO give due consideration 90 the
testimony of witnesses called IN be-
hale OF Mr. SmO0L who testified that
there was DO Interference by the Nor
Uou Church I'M the political affairs oi
Utah or Idaho. But. leaving out az com
slicrat.0n any political or personal bias
for Mr. Sm0ot which those witnesses
may have manifested there Is very ll,-
lie Ia their testimony aside from and
beyond their individual opinion ana
judgment as regards the political cou-
ditlons On the states named. The tcst-
WOuy OF these witnesses iu no way con.
trU, erts the facts before referred to,
from which facts the conclusion is De-
reslstlble that the controlling authori-
ties or the Mormon Church DO dominate
the political affairs OF the State ~
utoh ana control 10 some extent the
political affairs OF the state OF Idaho
Without dispToof Of these facts, or
fGong proof OF cOunteryailIng facts.
me-e opinions Of witnesses however IN.
telIgent and however candid. do not
suffice
Not only Is Mr.. Smoot one OF those
by ana through whom the political af-
fairs OF Utah are donInated but his
election TO The senate was, 1t is believed.
tuo result OF such domination
When Mr. Smoot concluded 20 be-
COME a candidate FOR the senate, DEE VAS
careful tO obtain the consent NJ the
first presidency and twelve apostles 90
bis candidacy. But this so-called 'con-
sent ~ the rulers OF The Church was
naturally regarded by the people Of
Uia1 who were familiar with the ways
ot the Mormon high priesthood. as be-
Iug under the circumstances, equiva-
inU. tu am Endorsement and made II I'm
possible for anyone else 20 become an
asp.'ant FOR the same position with any
hope Of success.
\ Practical Union Of Church and state.
Tho fact that the adherents OF the
Mormon Church hold the balance "
power iu politics in some OF the states
enables the first presidency and twelve
apostles To control the political affairs
OF IN re states TO any extent they may
desire Thus. a complete union Of
church and state Is formed. This is In
accordance with the teachings OF the
priesthood Of the Mormon Church. as
promulgated In he writings OF men Of
high authority % the Church, 10 the
effect that the Church Is supreme IN
an matters u government as well rs
10 all things pertaining TO the private
lifc OF the citizen. In one Of a series
OF pamphlets, con the Doctrines % the
Gospel by Apostle Orson Pratt, a Il
ilrmed.
The Kingdom Of God Is an order OF
/ government established by divine au-
/ thOrity II Is the only legal govern
ment that can exist IN any part Of the
universe. All other governments are
Illegal and unauthorized God having
made an beings and worlds has the SUI
prcme right % govern them by His
own laws and by officers OF His own
appointment Any people attempting
90 govern themselves and by laws 0f
their own making and by officers OF
their own appointment, are In direct
rebellion against the kingdom OF God
Vol. /. D. 666)
The union Of church and state IN
those states under the domination ~
the Mormon leaders is most abhOrrent
10 our free institutions. John Adams
declared that the attempt Of the Church
VI England 90 extend ijs jurisdiction
over the colonies contributed as much
as any other cause tU arouse the ate
DeutI1u. not only OF the inquiring mind
bat ~ tie common people. and 90 urge
them 20 close thinking OF The consutu-
JIonal authority OF parliament over the
colonies and to bring on The war Of ~.
dependence After the colonies had
achieved their independence, the COM
pleto rnfrsnchisement Of the church
from the control of the state, and OF he
state from the control of the church
vas brought about through the efforts
~ men Ike Thomas jefferson and
James Madison ln Virginia, and those
Of almost equal prominence On other
states And thus the natural desire NJ
he people OF this nation Tor the entire
separation az church and state was IN
toruoraiei iu The Constitution Of the
United States hy the FIRST amendment
90 that instrument
The right to worship God ACCORDING
- the dictates 90 ones oru conscience
"a one ~ the most sacred rights ol
every American citizen. 40 less sacred
is tHs right ~ every citizen to vote ac-
D.rlIrg OBJ DIS conscientious convictions
without interference o1 DE part OF any
church religious uTEaUiE4tiUu or body