Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-02-01
THE POST AND THE CHURCH.

Ifle hNfIHbe GhhltIH 'NA'i hIpNN "
little about Utah and the 'Mormons'
and OF the general subject Of Mormon
ISM that he rarely touches on the sub
oect without displaying either an un-
warranted bitterness OF spirit or la
mentable lack Of correct Information.
Here is the Washington Post, published
NJ the seat OF government, displaying
such mingled ignorance and folly as to
cause wonder and hilarity among people
who are posted. That paper in times
past has manifested some fairness In
touching on Utah affairs and desire
ITO state facts as far as It was able to
obtain them. But lately II has fallen In.
10 the not uncommon habit OF eastern
Journals of making rash statements,
unsupported by evidence, and comment
ing upon them as though they were the
truth. We are sorry to see this change,
because the Post is an able and inhu-
entail paper.
In a recent article, the Post pretends
alarm at the wonderful influence wlelS"
ed by "Mormonism" in Congress, par
ticularly on two public questions. II
says: "Mormonlsm is supporting the
Statehood bill at both ends Of the Capt.
toll" And further, that Mormon inter-
ests are hostile TO the Philippine tariff
bill, because OF the rapid growth OF the
beet sugar industry In Utah, Idaho and
other sections OF the far West where
the Mormon Church is strong" And the
Post jumps at the conclusion that each
measure viii be defeated In the Senate,
and Mormonlsm more than any other
factor will be responsible for IT,
What do you think Of that? There Is
one Mormon In the Senate and one In
the House. Roth are Republicans, elect
ed by the votes OF citizens of their par
~. What is to give them such won
derful. preponderating influence In eth
err or both houses OF Congress? II eth
er, or both of them favor or oppose
any public measure, what would Nor
monism" have to do with the natter
II O Presbyterian Senator or Represent
tative shows great interest In any pub
lie measure. does that prove that Pres
byterianism has powerful Influence In
Congress7 Cannot Catholic vote for
or against bill OF any kind. without
being Influenced by Catholicism? The
Post ought to know better than to IN
dulge In such remarks no matter how
strong may be It's antlpathy TO Nor
monlsm," about which II evidently
knows little or nothing. 1t may be hos
tile, but 1t ought not TO be silly.
The reason the Post assigns for the
support It alleges "Mormonism' Is Civ
ing to the statehood bill is that.
"It has been learned at the Depart
ment OF Justice that the practice OF
polygamy is no common among the
Mormons OF Arizona and New Mexico,
that the government already has secur-
ed convictions of fifteen cases IN ART
IONA and seventeen cases In New Mex
leo"
We fear that the Post has been draw
ing upon It's own Imagination. or from
some unfounded rumor. instead Of the
Department OF Justice for its informa-
tionl?) on this point The Department
does not show one case OF polygamy
either In Arizona or New Mexico. The
Post does not seem TO understand the
distinction, established 10y the Edmunds
law, between polygamy, which Is the
marrying OF plural wives and the dir
ferent offense OF living IN the plural
family relation.
There are a few persons living In
Arizona who married plural wives
many years ago. and against whom
prosecutions were Instituted for the Of
Tense known as unlawful cohabita-
ton There were nine cases IN all.
one Of them was found not guilty. the
others We're sentenced to pay a fine Of
500 each. They were not charged with
polygamy. There were no cases either
OF one ofrense or the other in New Mex
SEQ. The Post can verify this state
ment by fair investigation. The par
ticulars were published in the Pres
colt (ArIzona) Herald, and in the Salt
Lake papers OF December 20, 1905. The
light fines imposed were In consequence
OF the facts we have mentioned, that
the plural marriages were entered into
many vars ago. and the court took all
the circumstances into consideration. II
they had been cases OF polygamy, the
penalty would no doubt have been In
accordance with the law which indicts
a fine Of $500 and imprisonment for five
years. So much for that,
The Post is equally away off the track
In its assertions about the Mormon
Church and the beet sugar interests
IT says:
1T is a fact OF vast significance 20
the politics OF the Northwest that the
beet sugar industry IL almost COM
pletely under the control Of high Of
flcials OF the Mormon church. Joseph
smith, head OF the Church, Is the ac-
tive president OF seven big sugar fac
tories IN Utah, three in idaho and
numerous others either projected or
actually under construction. in Wyo-
ming Montana, Oregon and Nevada.
Many millions OF dollars have been In
vested In these factories. and many
more millions are ready TO be put IN
new plants. A large part, If not prac-
tically all. Of this capital was raised
by the Mormon Church tithing system"
The Post could easily have obtained
the facts concerning this important in
dustry IN the West, Il Il had been dis
posed to DO so. Joseph Smith, the
head OF the Mormon Church" died
sixty-two years ago. Joseph r. Smith.