The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-12-12

whom were high church officials, and 6
Gentiles, and in the House Of 40 mem
bers, "a were Mormons, 3 of whom were
polygamists and high church officials,
aed az II II Gentiles1 giving on Joint ballot
In the sixth Legislature, 1905, IL of
the IS Senators were Mormons, hold
ing high ecclesiastical positions, and
Gentiles, and in the House SO of the 45
members were Mormons, with ! polyg-
amist and 9 bishops, and j Gentiles,
making in Joint assembly AZ Mormons
and 90 Gentiles.
1t will be observed, therefore. that
there has never been Legislature
elected in the State of Utah since her
admission into the Union that did not
have membership Of more than two
thirds adherents Of the Mormon church,
and therefore under its complete domi-
nation
ties of official control. it has dominated
the State with an iron hand, and in its
political dictation it has not only con
trolled the affairs of the State of Utah
but reaches beyond the confines of the
State and exerts potential influence
In shaping and directing the policies of
States adjacent thereto.
Supervising Legislature.
Eh' thI hA,NliHs VI 'uc ulsb l-eglSld-
ture of Utah committees were appoint
ed by the officials of the Mormon
church to wait upon the legislators
with view of debating and superyis"
ing legislation, Early in the history Of
the State the officials of the church di-
rected that the rank and file should di-
vide on political lines about equally,
one-half going to one of the great po-
litical parties of the Nation, the other
half TO the other. so that the entire
strength of the organization could be
cast TO one party or the other as the
interests of the organization might de
mand. One of the witnesses declared,
"Whenever the church indorscs n man
he will be elected; whenever they put
upon him the seal of their disapproba-
tion he will not be elected -
1t appeared In evidence before your
committee that candidates for Office in
the State OF Idaho desiring success usual
" visit Salt Lake City and arrange for
their campaign with the leaders of the
Will OF the church is carried out
In 1904 a leading Mormon in a State
convention IN the State of Idaho made
the statement that in case a certain
resolution should be withdrawn he
would go to Utah and ask the president
OF the Mormon church to cease lnterfer-
ing in Idaho politics.
CHC VI lHb muSJ HdRTlnL instances or
political domination was the case of
Moses Thatcher The Constitution of
the State of Utah, it will be remem-
bered. provides "There shall be no
union of church and State. nor shall
any church dominate the State or inter
fere with its functions. Preliminary
to the admission of Utah as a State,
and in anticipation of it, in 1895 an
election was held for members of the
Legislature and State officers, and for
Representative in Congress. Thatcher
was, AT that time, out of harmony
with the hierarchy because Of his pre-
vious conduct in reference TO the politi
cal affairs of the Territory
Interference in Politics.
In 1891 it had been agreed among
the ruling authorities of the Mormon
church that men who were high in au-
thority in that church and who believed
in Republican principles should go out
among the Mormon people and en-
deavor to persuade the voters 10 vote
the Republican ticket, while those who
could not indorse the principles of the
Republican party should remain silent.
Moses Thatcher, Democrat. did not
conform to this resolution, but made
several speeches for the Democratic
ticket. 1t was afterward asserted by
Joseph f. Smith that the COUNSEL