The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-10-07
MoRMoNs AFFIRM THE CHARGE.


The declaration made in the Demo
cratic State Convention on Thurs
day last against tho election to the
United States Senate of an Apostle of
the "so-called dominant church, as
violation Of the spirit of the constitu-
tion where it provides for the com
plete separation Of church and state, IS
invaluable as political record. Tins
declaration comedies that there has not
heretofore been tho senaration OF
church and state which the coustltu-
tion provides for it also is proof posi-
tive of the meddling OF church author-
tics in the political affairs of the peo'
pie aud Of the dominance Of the church
interest in the political and civil sf-
fairs of Utah, Unless there has been
this moddhng or this dominance, there
was no need of any such declaration by
the Democratic State convention; N
fact, without the assumption OF such IN
trusion and dominance, that declaration
is a sheer waste of effort and an I'M
pudent and uuprovoked assault upon
the integrity of the church whero 1t
processes TO be entirely out Of politics
If that church profession OF being out
Of politics is true, then the declara-
ton OF the State Democratic conven-
ton was unprovoked, and cruel as
sault upon the honor and integrity OF
the Mormon ecclesiasts, and II gave
them the lie direct when they profess
10 be out of politics. The American
party has imputed this interference in
civil affairs; this guidance in the poll
tics Of the State TO the church leaders,
and has abundantly proved it. The
American party insists that the charge
that the church leaders do dominate
the civic affairs Of the State, and do
interfere with the political parties and
direct and control both, is in fact true.
The church leaders persist in denying
both charges.
But now comes a Democratic - con
vention, composed of representatives
of all the people OF the State, the large
majority Of these being members OF
the Mormon church. These delegates
may be presumed to know from the in.
side precisely what they are talking
about. aud what this declaration put
forth by that convention means. They
stand up before the neople Of the couu-
try and declare against this domina-
ton, this interference, and say that 1t
is violation Of the spirit Of the State
constitution. 1t is asserted with much
positiveness that the vast majority Of
the Mormon people naturally belong to
the Democratic party. It has been in
sisted upon from the time of the re-
convened Democratic convention on
ward, that if it had not been for the
interference OF the high ecclesiasts of
the church directing the people with
out regard to their political ideas, prin-
ciples, aspirations and traditions, TO
divide about equally between the par
ties, the Democratic party would have
had walk k-ovey IN tnis State at every
elections that is 10 say, that if the
church leaders had let the people alone
there would have been. practically no
Republican party in this State.
Now. it is incoDceivable that Demo
Gratis, the vast majority Of them Nor
mons, could meet il a State convention
and deliberately put forth declaration
which practically ahirms the truth of
everything that has been said upon
this question, and declares 1t to be a
violation OF the spirit Of the constitu
tion, if the charges of this domination
by the church are not true. Clearly
those Mormon Democrats, faithful
members Of the church, understood pre-
cisely what they were saying, and they
understood exactly why they were say
ing it, they know the truth. 1t is a
fact. 80 affirmed by them and as in
sisted upon by the American party,
that there has been this interference
both in civil affairs and in politics by
the church leaders, who have dominated
the situation.
Now, then, will the church leaders
persist IN denying a thing which is de-
liberately, purposefully, and with clear
understanding, affirmed by the repre-
sentatives Of one half or more of the
whole membership Of that church in
Utshs The Democratic State couveu.
tiou, composed in overwhelming ma
iority of direct representatives OF the
members OF the Mormon church, in