The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-10-16
he sEULKs.

/
tober s, 1906, The Tribune issued chal'
lenge to President Joseph F. Smith of
the Mormon church, prophet, seer and
revelator (pretended) to debate qucs-
tion involving the right Of that pre-
tender Gas The Tribune atirms) to the
title which he has assumed, The specific
| charge which The Tribune made and
offered to maintain was that Joseph +.
Smith is violator Of the laws Of God
and man. In that question much is in.
volved. The challenge included an offer
to conduct the discussion IN the col
pages of The Tribune, or in both of
these public journals, each side having
equal space to present its case. Was
not that fair7
II any one of you citizens had been
so charged by this paper, and knew
yourself to be innocent Of that charge,
would you not have resented the accusa-
tion, and would you not have proved
to the community that The Tribune
falsely and wrongfully besmirched your
characters And would you not have
compelled retraction of the defamationS
But what of Joseph F. Smith, He
has chosen to say nothing in reply to
The Tribune challenge, neither by
himself nor through any more capable
writer among his supporters. 1t will
avail the president of the Mormon
church nothing to make entrenched an
swer in the big tabernacle, or any,
where else exclusively in the presence
of his own people, because there our
side would not be heard; and The Tri-
bune insists that if this question is to
be discussed at all, it shall be for COM
plete public edi6cation. If he deems
himself to be unequal to the task Of
publicly maintaining his part in the
controversy Joseph F. Smith can very
easily set apart to defeat some minor
but more proficient advocate of the
cause he pretends to champion-as he
ordains to cock,sure Senatorships some
minor but less capable ecclesiasts and
jack.ecclesiasts
Joseph F. Smith can not complain
that the questions TO be involved in the
proposed discussion would be Of no
particular Importance, because during
the progress Of the debate there might
arise contributory distractions probably
designable in such terms as high treason
to country, false pretense- in occupa-
tion, immortality of practice, disloyalty
to God, .improbity OF demeanor, in
fidelity to covenant, believing defiance
in protective surrounding and craven
AFFECTION in the presence of superiority.
In view of the fact that a numerical
majority of the inhabitants of Utah
hold Joseph F. Smith to be the first
citizen in this Republic Of the United
States and the highest potentate in
the kingdom of God on earth $50
styled, the proposed debate would be
of the greatest possible Importance to
them and to those who do not believe
as they do,
The Tribune has stated that the chief
offense committed by the otherwise
good citizenship represented in the
Mormon people is that they uphold,
sustain aud encourage Joseph r. Smith
in his policies and practices. In order
that justifca tion for their attitude may
ensue (if the truth may warrant such),
it would be we'll for the Mormon people
to defend their prophet after the man.
ner suggested IL The TribuDe's chal-
lenge; so that if The Tribune is and
has been giving out wrong Impressions
or publishing broadcast untruth in this
matter (ss some Of them have been
faithful enough TO privately assert but
not bold enough 10 publicly maintaiu),
then that fact should be given to the
world. And if, on the contrary, The
Tribune has been truthful in it's utter
ances on this important question, then
the world should be made acquainted
with that fact instead-and with Nor
mon acknowledgment.
There is yet time, and The Tribune's
challenge to President Joseph F. Smith
is still open.