The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-11-22
This is Opinion in Logan as to
the Parkinson Ballot
Fraud Case.
STAKE PRESIDENT TRIES
TO MUZZLE THE PRESS
Unpleasant Facts Printed About
High Ecclesiasts Have Dis
turbed Their Dreams.
Special TO The Tribune,

Special to The Tribune,
LOGAN, Nov. 21.-Not little ac-
tivity is reported in the Parkinson bal
lot fraud case. Parkinson himself is
alleged to be busy, 1t is said he is call.
ing on persons who have been instru~
mental in the disclosures of the facts
In his alleged ballot-stealing case, re-
monstrating with them for their temer-
lty, holding them responsible for his
discomfeiture. and correcting them for
want of respect for their superlors in
the priesthood.
1t is known that President Parkinson
thus cornered and sought to correct a
member of the staff of one of the local
papers, who has published the facts
both here and elsewhere The local
scribe, however, is said to have stood
his ground, refusing to be called down
by the stake president for doing what
he regarded as his duty, even though
this was distasteful to ecclesiastical au-
thority.
A local newspaper man has been
visited and corrected by Willard D.
Cranney for permitting his paper to
publish the facts in, the Parkinson bal
lot fraud case. Cranney is high
priest, "sevepty,' and a member of
the high council, having jurisdiction &C.
cleslastically over the people of Cache
stake. He is An active and Jealous
priest, hifse]f, subservient to authority
and Jealous for the dignity of men of
ms class; Cranney is the man, who,
with Wilson, last winter called Prof
W. NJ. Wolfe on the carpet and sought
to force his recantation. The newspa-
per man gave respectful audience to
Cranney, but insisted of discussing the
points involved, declining to acknowl.
edge that. his paper had done wrong,
and refusing to confess himself in err
ror.
Would Muzzle Newspaper.
Cranney is alleged to have taken the
position that it is the duty of the local
Mormon paper 70 protect and not ex~
pose those in authority, He is said to
have urged that in the present case,
PRESIDENT Parkinson has been held up
before the whole people in an unfavor-
able hight. In consequence of this the
stake president has lost caste, suffered
IN his. dignity, and been brought into
dlsrepute, when it is the duty of every
Latter.day Saint TO sustain, defend and
support his file-leaders
'lt is not right Cranney is re-
ported to have said, ''for our local pa
pers TO publish things against our lead
Ing men. They should be more careful.
These men are entitled to more consid-
Grafton and greater respect than or
dinary men.
The strenuous ecclesiastical effort
winch has been making since President
Parkinson s arrest has had the effect
of quelling in large measure the public
discussion of the Mt. Sterling ballot
fraud case, In consequences, The gen
eral interest has died down. reducing
the public demand for the punishment
or the crime, while apologists are busy
urging extenuating arguments favorable
TO the alleged criminals, pointing out
their high church standing, their we'll
known zeal and faithfulness in eccles-
lastlcal duty, and urging that in max
ing way with the two ballots Parkinson
and lsraelson "acted without evil in.
tent. -
Failure Is Expected.
There is an opinion crystallizing here
to the effect that, when the case finally
is brought to trial, II it ever reaches
that stage, sentiment will so far have
as to result in failure. Some
90 80 far as even to suggest that Park
lnson may be given vote of thanks
for his activity in the recent election,
and the way he and others of his class
sent the Democrats to grass.
Attorney James c. Walters. who will !
try the pending case, was Yesterday |
asked whether a date for the trial of |
the Mt. Sterling ballot-looting case has
been decided on, and II so, when. He |
said no date has been designated. and |
that he is so busy with other business
rs to preclude immediate action. He
said, however, that the preliminary
bearing may possibly be secured the
after part of next week.
There are those here who suggest
hat the delay in the trial is deliberate,
he design being to hold it back so as to
prevent the facts, which in the hear
ng must be disclosed, from figuring in
he Smoot case. which comes onto the
loor of the Senate early in December.