The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-08-12

the Utah Congressional delegation in de-
| termining the fitness and qualification OF
men for public ONCE opposed to every
principle upon which our political sys-
| TEN la founded but is In direct and
fragrant violation of section 4, article l
| of the Constitution of this State. which,
| so far as material 10 this question, pro-
| yIdes: "Nn religious test shall be re-
quired as a qualification for any ofice OF
| public trust" and, again; There shall
| be no union Of church and State"
| Now, Senator, am unable to conceive
how It is possible without violating both
the spirit and the letter OF the foregoing
provisions OF the State Constitution, for
| you to say to one set or class of citi-
| zens of this State that they are fneligi-
| BILE TO hold certain public offices because
they are not members OF the Mormon
| church-that is, the Mormon religion ID
| an indispensable qualification for those
| oflces-and, on the other hand, say to
| another class of citizens that because
| they happen to be members of the Nor
| mon church they are necessarily dis
qualified from holding other offices OF
public trust You may answer that the
| Federal Constitution and statutes denne
and FIX the qualifications Of Federal Of
| ce-holders and that the provisions OF
| the State Constitution referred TO do not
| control. ] concede this, but, neyertke-
| less II this obnoxious rule is to control
| In the appointment to Federal office In
| this State. IT must, OF necessity, govern
| in the selection of candidates for state
Offices.
The rank and file OF the Mormon peo-
pie, with possibly a few exceptions, are
bitterly and unalterably opposed to their
| church being continuously made a factor
| in politics, but II the rule that appears
| to have been adopted by those In con-
| troll of the Republican organization Of
| this State is to be followed II will place
| the Mormon church in the attitude OF
| being an important IL not controlling
| factor in the politics of this common
| wealth This Is nothing more nor less
| than the union Of church and State. And
| this union OF church and State in Utah
| Is the only justification the American
| party has for It's existence, and by thus
| making Mormonism an Indispensable
qualification for one set OF offices and a
| disqualification for another set, you fur
nish that party the strongest possible ar
| gument that can be urged why 1t should
continue to exist and ultimately triumph
| In this State.
| A large majority OF the Republicans Of
| Utah, in fact, all persons who have any
regard for the peace and future pros
perity of the State, insist that in deter
| mining whether or not a person when
1
cessful the test must relate only to his
| politics, his claim for party recognition,
| his character and general fitness for the
position he seeks. The fact that he is
| q Mormon or nom Mormon cannot be
| considered.
Now, Senator, l am neither advocating
nor opposing the appointment Of Mr.
| Livingston. My position is this: Mt.
| LIvingston's qualifications and general
| fitness for the offlce being conceded, II
his claims to party recognition are su-
| perior TO those Of the other candidates
| for the same position, he Is entitled to
| the first consideration, and the fact that
| he Is a Mormon ought not be used against
him. II does not require a prophetic
mind to sec aud understand that just
80 long ns designing politicians, be they
| Gentiles or Mormons. persist In dragging
| the Mormon church into and making It
| a factor In the politics Of this State, the
| bitternesses and dlssensions which have
| so long made Of Utah a storm center, like
| BanQuo's ghost, Will not down, but Will
| continue to be disturbing element and
| will vex us until those who represent the
| State in our National Legislature shall
prove themselves TO be big enough, broad
enough in their views, with sufficient
| amount OF patriotism, Individuality and
! independence of thought and action to
| Ignore and trample under foot, when
| dealing with matters which pertain to the
\ State and the Nation, such petty con-
! siderations as TO whether an applicant
for office belongs to this or that church,
| to this or that fraternal order, or this or
| that so-called faction within the party
OF course, ] do not wish to be under
stood as intimating that you and your
| colleagues do not possess In the fullest
/ measure these characteristics, but / do
| wish to be understood as insisting that
| w hV un hn t3l N ha
| caslon and prove that the confidence of
| the Republican party Of this State and
| Of the people in general has not been
| misplaced and that the craftsmanship of
| their National representatives has not
been overestimated. Respectfully yours,
| w. NJ. M'CARTY.
Wanted the Judges Advice.
Salt Lake City. June %, 1906.-Hon.
George Sutherland, U. s. Senator, Wash
ington, D. C-Dear Senator: Last fall
when you were on the eve Of starting for
| Washington, D. c., you invited me into
your private Office for the purpose OF
talking over and exchanging views re-
specting some OF the public measures
and questions which most vitality affect
the political, commercial and industrial
interests of this State. After some
what hasty review and meager discussion
OF the conditions here and as they are
| Viewed by representative men and the
people generally of other States, you re-
quested-in fact, urged-ms 10 occasional
ly communicate with you and give you
my views on the Situation" and on such
matters OF a public character as might
arise in the progress Of events.
Shortly after you arrived In Washing
ton, In answer TO letter of mine, In
which l urged the retention of Hon, Ar
thur l., Thomas as Postmaster of this
city, giving my reasons therefor, yol
again invited me to keep you posted as tc
the trend Of events here. In the course
of your letter you say: II am glad to have
you letter and the information which Il
contains" And, again. IN the Same let
ter: Il would be glad to hear from 20,
as to any new developments which 70,
may think bear upon the situation"
do not refer to these matters as an apol.
ogy, nor as a defense for having writer
you; but. as 1t is claimed by some of YOU
political advisers who are In sympath,
| with what you have accomplished anc
much that you have failed to accomplish
by way OF distribution Of Federal patron
| age in this State that by erercfsin1 IN,