The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-10-06
THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.
1t IS evident from the expressions of
the public that the Democratic con-
Vention voiced the sentiment of a large
majority of the people of Utah when
II expressed its opposition to the par
ticlpation in politics of high church
officials, particularly when they under
take the control of party affairs. Nor
mon and nOnMormon alike recognize
the question as the most important of
this campaign, and they realize that
there can be no peace in the state I'M
til the issue is settled.
Very naturally, Senator Smoot and
the men associated with him in the
control Of the epublican party do
not agree with the Democratic plat
form, nor do they like it's plain state
ment of facts corroborating the decla-
ration that 1.-The election to the United
States senate of an apostle of the So
called dominant church was impru-
dent and unwise and has inflicted upon
this commonwealth of Utah and its
people injury from which they cannot
recover for many years to come
But there is TO escaping the logic
of that declaration. If Senator Smoot
had not been a candidate there would
have been no occasion, no excuse for
the revival of the old contentious. If
he had not appeared as a controlling
factor in the Republican party there
could have been no such organiza ton
as the American" party, with its
campaign of hatred and bitterness and
strife. II he had not been elected there
would have been no shadow of foun-
dation for the charge that ne had unit
ed in himself the political and religious
functions which have been the object
of attack. Without Smoot there could
have been no such troubles as have af-
flicted Utah for the past three years.
1t is true the men who have organ
lied the American" party were will
ing to take advantage of Senator
Shoots influence before he aspired for
Office. 1t is true they supported the
legislators who elected him TO the SEN
ate but it is equally plain that the
senator was warned in advance that
his election would be followed by the
very troubles that have come; and if
he had been broad enough to sacrifice
his personal ambitions for the welfare
of the people of Utah they would have
been spared the humiliation, the loss
and the injury which have befallen
them.
Believing these truths, the Demo
cratic convention, representing all
shades OF personal opinion and all re-
Hgious creeds, could do nothing but
state them and appeal to the people
for vindication. 1t was the only manly
course to take; and the fact that such
men as j. II. Moyle. Judge King and
Chairman Martineau urged the adop-
ton of the platform is ample. evidence
that ii was inspired by no malice, born
of no vindictive feeling. They believe,
as the whole Democratic party be-
Iieves. that there Will be no peace for
the people until the fight is made and
won on these lines. The men who
supported It. were, many Of them
prominent Mormons, above reproach in
their church relations. They made the
issue because it was a duty they could
not evade. duty to the whole state
and to their personal convictions. None
could deplore the necessity more than
they: none could be more sincere and
determined TO settle the issue now and
for all time.
Involved in this same question and
part of it. is the effort of the Amer
leans" to unite the nom Mormons OF
the state in a campaign for the re-
establishment of religious ostracism
for the delivery of the state into the
hands of their followers and the ex-
clusion of a large proportion of its'citi-
zens from office or political emolument
of any kind. They have already estab-
lished the precedent in Salt Lake City
and they seek TO extend the same rule
to the county and state. If they could
: succeed, they would perpetuate the