The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-04-12
TANNER HAS NOT
BEEN REMOVED
No One Was Named in
His Place On the
Board.
HIERARCH DID NOT
WANT HIM SLAUGHTERED
Man of Many Wives Directed to
Keep Away Until SmoOt
Case Is Settled.

A good deal Of post-mortem excitement
showed Itself Tuesday and the day before
in Mormon circles because Of the
slaughter among the dignitarles of the
church. md all sorts of stories were in
circulation. Among the most sensational
was one 10 the effect that ]. NJ. Tanner,
the notorious public character, had been
removed from his position as Superin-
tendent OF Public Schools because his
name WAS not presented as a member OF
the church board OF education, All sorts
OF exaggerations of the Importance OF this
omission went from mouth to mouth.
Facts in tho Case.
As a matter os fact, Tanner was not
removed; no person was named in his
place on the board; his name was not
read-but that leaves the hierarchy in a
position to guess II either way I'm the fu-
ture.
Is to Keep Out of Sight.
An acquaintance OF Tanner who knows
him and his professional and marriage
career with some intimacy, being Inter-
Viewed, said that Tanner had received as
surances that he had better continue to
remain out of, the public eye until after
that he was not to lose his place. in the
affection of the chief hierarch. and was
not to lose his authority unless some new
requirement should nrise.
Smith Wants to Save Him.
This informant says: President Smith
does not intend 10 let Tanner suffer if
he can help IT. If he had been willing
TO slaughter Tanner there would have
been a resignation from Tanner read at
tho conference or n statement would have
been made thnt he had resigned but
President Smith wants TO save him.
Is Related to Lyman
For some reason there is very strong
affection for Tanner entertained In the
hierarchy: II may possibly be due to
Tanners relationship to Francis Marion
Lyman. Both ]. 81, Tanner and H. S
Tanner. his equally notorious brother. are
cousins of F. NJ, Lyman.
Worked Upon Lyman.
Probably President Smith got FresI-
dent Lyman to yield Lyman's objections
to the removal of Taylor and Cowlcy
and the advance OF Hyrum NJ Smith two
notches In the quorum by agreeing to
continue his support of the Tanners 1t
will be remembered that H. g. Tanner
was boosted into tho highest pulpits In
the Tabernacle after Sam Russell made
his sensational charge that H. g. Tanner
had married Clarice Thatcher.
Was Favored by Smith.
1T IS not long since ], NJ. Tanner was
on the high road to tho apostleship I
know that President Smith favored him.
Tanners boldncss In taking new wives
while he was an official OF the Govern
ment as president OF the Agricultural
college pleased Brother Joseph F.. great
ly. Nothing suits President Smith better
than to have other mon show the courage
Of their convictions, and have them stand
out In the face OF public opinion to live
their religion
Incurred Many Dangers
Brother j. NJ. Tanner has incurred
OF plural marriage. On one occasion.
about three years ago. he came near to
being shot by young man whose sweet
heart he had taken for/a plural wife.
Brother Tanner brought the young
woman to Salt Lake City. entered
hotel. and they registered under an as
sumed name as man and wife. and the
former faDccc, sitting in the lobby
of the hotel, saw and recognized them.
Debated Question for Hours.
The young man had room In the
hostclry that night. and he walked the
floor for hours debating with himseIf
whether no should get gun and shoot
Brother Tanner of the face of the land
scapc, but finally concluded that II she