The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-10-06
who voted against Judge Powers two
years ago should not do so again.
THE CONFERENCE ASSEMBLIES.

The Mormon conference opened in
this city yesterday with a very large
attendance. The railroads had given
special rates, and every one expects
that something epochal will occur at
this assemblage. The streets are
thronged with crowds, and expectation
is high as TO something important that
Is to come.
But the conference opened taniely.
President Smith INDUCED in his usual
dividing of the people into those i'of
us and "our enemies Every one
who is not a Mormon is "an enemy
There was much bitterness evident in
his mind against tho Vaccinations Of
"our enemies. He, however. consolcd
himself that the "enemies had been
able to help the Saints il considerable
degree by pointing out their foiblas,
their tricks, their treason, their bad
faith, aud their crimes. These are not
the words used by President Smith, of
course, but these things are what, ~
fact, he meant.
II now he will carry his logic TO It's
legitimate conclusion and yield to the
logical benefits which his "enemies -
have conferred upon him, at this time
he will carry out the heretofore init
mated programme of retiring all polyg-
amists, himself included, from leader
ship in the church. 1t is time these
hardened criminals were taken away
from headship. Their prominence is
bad advertisement for the church. 1t is
idle for the church TO claim that it has
abandoned polygamy when its chief
men continue 10 live IN polygamy, and
are subject to arrest and prosecution
in the courts because OF the issue OF
their crimes. The sign post, "Our chief
men arc living lecherous lives and are
criminals before the law is an ex-
ceedingIy bad one 70 erect over the
headquarters Of religious deuomina-
ton. President Smith will allow mis-
"cuemies TO copfer upon him the
greatest benefit they have ever been
able to confer in all the history OF the
church, by carrying out this suggested
programme OF relegating the law-break,
ers 10 the rear.
The further speaking at the Taber-
nacle yesterday was very ferveut, and
to thc point that the congregation
should stand by President Smith aud do
whatever he asks TO bavc done. This
could be considered either preparatory
10 the great coup suggested, or IT might
be the uerc routine rcbasb of pIofes
sions OF devotion which are universal at
all the conferences. If IL is the latter,
there is not much Significance TO be at.
tsched to the fervoucy of the pleas
20 stand by President Smith. Without
these pleas the congregation would
stand by him anyway, merely as a mat.
ter OF course and OF routine.
Ii these impassioued utterances mean
anything in particular, therefore, they
must mean that President Smith has
some sort of suggestion to make or
programme to propose that will be
startling IN its nature, II SO, these
fcrvent appeals viii prepare the way
for il. If this programme should be
as above suggested, then President
Smith would at once SHOW forth the
supreme benefit conferred by his cu.
emies, and also soundness OF judg
mont. loyalty Of action, and yielding
to the Promptiugs Of common sense
With which he has never been credited
bsratoforo