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

As 10 the charge that the Mormon
| Church interfeTes IN and controls pO'
! litical affairs In Utah. we find the facts
| established by the evidence 10 be sub.
stantially as follows: From the time
the Mormons reached Utah. IN the
summer OF lSi1, until 1891, there
We're no political parties in that terri
tory I'm the sense I'm which that express
sion would be used In other parts OF
the United States There grew up
in the territory Of Utah during that
time two parties, one known as the Peo-
pies party, which was comprised eN-
cluslvely of members q the Mormon
Church was controlled by the lead
ers Of that Church, and the Liberal
party. which was composed Of nom
Mormons.
owing 10 controversies concerning
polygamy and other matters not in IS
sue elsewhere IN the United States.
these two parties were not only COM
posed, on the one hand, Of members
Of a religious sect and on the other
hand Of those opposing that sect. but
the controversy between the two par
ties was extremely bitter II seems not
to be controyerted that until the year
1891. the Peoples party W not only
dominated By the Church. but prac-
lcaily was The Church But after the
manifesto Of 1880. hereinbeforo re-
ferred 10. which forbade further polyg-
amous marriages many members both
OF the Liberal party and OF the Peoples
party conceived Il % be 10 the Interests
OF the iorrftory that tho people should
divide On party lines a. they were d.
yided n ether parts Of tho country
and that ,he liberal party mo tie
Peoples party should be disbgnood.
Ia the course % few months this
purpose wss carried into effect The
great majority % The voters o. tho
territory Of Utah. Morm0nt and nom
Mornons. became either Republicans
or Democrats, and political cJntro'
yersles IN The territory ull 1895 and
after that time N the STATE have been
waged. as a rule, on tho lines Of the
national political parties
While n Is no doubt true that The
habit which The Church and The mem.
bers Of the Church had followed ier
90 many years prior % the breaking
I'm Of the old parties o. voters receiving
counsel from officials Of the Church
IN regard 20 the selection OF candidates
for office vas not a. once completely
broken on, yet the evidence further
establishes that the Improvement 10
this regard has been very rapid. and
that. OF late yo8rs, the Mormon voters
az the State adhere more closely 90
party lines than the non-Mormons do,
We think the evidence establishes the
fact that since Reed Sm0ot became
an apostle of the Mormon Church on
the ON day ~ April. 1909. the Nor
mon Church has not controlled or at
tempted 70 control elections in Utah.
II g. claimed. however that the
Church. by an instrument called the
Political Rule has required 81 its
members holdiug Office ln the Church
that before they shall become candi-
dates FOR any political position ihey
shall receive the consent u the
church authorities. and that by this
device the church has controlled the
election of senators o! the United
States
This political rule Will be found on
pagts i6s 70 III, Volume / ~ the
nrinted report % the testimony before
Inc committee The meaning and e.
feet ~ this Instrument were very fully
So the case OF Moses
Thatcher, who 10 1925. was e candi-
date before the legislature Of TIE
Siafe OF Utah for election o. senator
% the United States
Thatcher. Al the time, was one ~ The
twelve apostles ~ the Church. and he
ana not seek or obtain the consent ~
the Church authorities 60 this candi-
dscy. For his ofenss No was tried
before a hlEh Church tribunal The
Aecision 81 This tribunal the accept
Ance thereof By Moses Thatcher and .
me Aceulesosnoe By the Church au-
thorities IN the terms upon which he /
accepted the conclusion Of tho inhun- /
N. Nill be found upon pages t6t 10 5l5 I
81 the sane volume afr. Thatcher /
VAS a witness before tho committee, I