The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-10-08

With crowds which filled and over
flowed the tabernacle attending both ses-
sions the seventy-seventh semi-annual
conference of the Mormon church was
yesterday brought 10 a close. A big over
flow meeting was held in the forenoon in
the assembly hall, and two overflow
meetings. one of them in the open air,
were held in the afternoon.
Although the crowds were enormous
and more or less eXpectant. the day
passed practically without feature. True,
the declaration of c.. w. Nibley. a close
friend of President Joseph F. Smith, that
the Mormon church stands for the open
shop principle in labor matters, created
a ripple OF comment. as did the sermon of
Apostle Orson T. Whitney on the fact
that the Mormon church believes in lib
erty and that its adherents are free moral
agents.
The fact that President Smith was pay
ing close attention to Apostle Whitney s
utterances was manifested when the pres
ident suddenly arose quickly and handed
the speaker a copy of the Book of Nor
mon, indicating a passage which cor
roborated the remarks of the speaker
The passage in question was a prophecy
by the Prophet Nephi that no king should
ever rule on the American continent At
no time in his address. however, did
Apostle Whitney refer to politics or to
the political attitude Of the church.
Layman Makes a Speech.
Byron Sessions, president of the. Big
Horn stake, opened the morning session
with prayer, and after the singing c. w
Nibley arose to make the first address of
the day. Mr.. Nibley is lay member of
the church and il is an unusual thing Tor
laymen to speak at the general confer
ence His close friendship for President
Smith caused his remarks to be given the
closest attention.
After some preliminary remarks Mr.
Nibley declared that the Latter-day
Saints are much misunderstood in the
world Their mission, he said, is one Of
love.
Their mission" he said. will tend to
make poverty less. 1t has brought about
all that men struggle for in socialism,
all that is best in socialism-and that is
equality"
Interests Feel Safe.
Mr.. NibIey went on to declare that there
is feeling of safety and peace in Utah
which is not felt to the same extent any
where else in the world. Even people
who are not of the Mormon faith, he de
cIared- have that feeling of security.
There is. he declared. a greater respect
for law and order in Utah than anywhere
else. and greater respect for the rights
Of man.
Men who own mines railroads and
smelters." went on Mr. Nibley. feel
that their interests are more safe here
among the Latter-day Saints than else
where. There is no danger from mob law
no danger from violence and no danger
from strikes. The church takes the posi-
ton that every man is free TO labor or
not as he sees fit 1t feels that all men
ought to labor. but acknowledges a man s
right to quit if he wishes.
THE church comedies that any man
may go on q strike; that he may join
any association and persuade others to
J join, but when he undertakes to kill the
man who wants to labor. then the church
says. Thus far and no further He must
- s,1As 3
labor.
Church Settled Coal Strike.
During a coal strike in Utah about
two years ago. declared Mr.. Nibley. con-
tinuing. peace was maintained largely
through the efforts of the presiding au-
thorities of this church In our neigh
boring state where peace was not main
tanned the interests of the state were al
most wrecked
Some of the men who had profited by
the church's attitude in favor of indus
trial peace were using their money to
injure the church, the speaker said Some
of the beneficiaries of the peace policy
were, he declared, proving ungrateful
He then asserted that the church had
co-operated with the then governor He
Der NJ. Wells. in bringing about peace in
the coal regions.
Il think the people whose church assist
ed in bringing about this result should
have had some return from the interests
which were involved" said the speaker
but about the only return I ever knew
of their receiving was that the companies
raised the price of coal % cents ton"
Speaking of Industrial conditions GEN
orally. Mr. Nibley declared that there
seemed to be almost too much prosperity
because of the great shortage in the la
Dor market He concluded by expressing.
his belief that the rank and file Of the
church are we'll satisfied with the admin
istration of affairs by the present pre-
siding authorities.
Richards Issues Reproof
Apostle George f. Richards. who spoke
next, was reproving in his tone He crit
icised the saints for not keeping the
word of wisdom. for Sabbat h brea king
and for frivolity. Among other things he
eSted in fashions, and were completely
happy if they could be the first to know
and adopt the next spring fashion.
We ape and copy Gentle fashions"
said Mr.. Richards. when we ourselves
should set the fashions"
MI Richards intimated his belief that
the Mormons were forgetting the injiIpc-
ton to honorable wedlock and the bear
ing of children.
I'm our homes" he said You should
find children. In others you NAV ex-
pect to find poodle dogs, and the women
busy with their clubs and society affairs
l fear our people are lapsing too much
into that condition"
Loyai 10 government.
Apostle OrsOn +. Whitney the newt
speaker, took for his text the LOYALTY of
the Mormon church and people TO the
government. Even during the DAYS of
Joseph Smith. he declared. the prophet
had been charged with harboring A de-
sign to overthrow the government and
make himself king. Joseph Smith. he
pointed out was native born American
descendant of the Pilgrim fathers Al
most the last political act of the pronh-
cts life. ne said. had been to run for
president of the United States
Apostle Whitney said that the natr;-
arehs and apostles in all dispensations
when the gospel was on the earth had
teen friends of freedom, rejecting in that
particular the light Of Jesus Christ He