Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-12
SENATOR BURROWS LOGIC,

judging from tne outline VI tht du-
dress OF Senator Burrows on the case
OF Senator smoot, the Chairman OF the
Senate committee on Elections and
Privileges appeared before the august
body OF which he is a member In the
role OF a paid attorney for the prose
cution," rather than az an investigator
OF certain charges, reporting without
prejudices the results of an Impartial
investigation. He made It clear that
his sole object was to influence the
senate against Senator Smoot, without
regard TO the truth or the falsity oil
the charges preferred He argued for
"conyiction," and. II IN the course oil
his argument he had to make white APP
pear black, or vice versa, In order 10
gain a point, that did not seem to re-
tard his flow OF oratory. a moment
reflection will make this perfectly
clear.
sen..tor Burrows admitted that the
most serious charge made, that senator
smoot is a polygamist had not oeen
sustained by any testimony. That is
so,ncwhat important admission, since
that particular allegation was sworn TO
nv n clergyman who II seems to U.S.
did not hesitate at committing perjury
in the interest of the anti-'Mormon
crusade. That charge being admitted
n be false, even by the spokesman for
the "prosecution" or persecution
something equally good" had to be
presented. And II was presented as
Furnished. II we are not mistaken py
the chief leaders OF anti-"Mormonlsh'
n. sophisms bear the trade marx OF
the factory, whence it, no doubt orig
mated.
Senator Burrows erred, first, In desig'
mating the Presidency OF the Church
.,a tbs Apostles as "a hierarchy
That is term employed py Tue
avowed enemies of the Church for the
nurnose of creating preJudices against
tho organization. The very expression
,,ovs falsehood. The Mormon
church has no hierarchy" In the sense
IN which the term Is used by us enc
mics According to Webster, "hier-
archy, signifies "a body of priests III
trusted with government" as wen as
form OF government administered py
the clergy. However, when the anu
oMormons' scornfully refer TO the
leaders of the Church as "hierarchs'
their intention is to charge tha'
thew form a body aiming at con-
trol Of. or exercising unlawful influence
upon, the government OF the state Ana
This 4. false. II they were educated
for the ministry" made a living by the
ministry, and thus formed distinct
class as do the ministers OF most de-
nominations, and II they as such min
isterial class endeavored to obtain IN
auence upon the secular government
they might plead guilty to the charge
OF being "hierarchs," as that term Is
used by their assailants, But the op-
posite is true. They do not form
class. They do not make living by
being ministers. Like Paul they labor,
each In their own secular calling, as
well as the ministry They are
American citizens with all the pri-
yIleges and responsibilities of American
citizenship. Mormon Church officials
from the first to the last. instead OF
being "hlerarchs," are business men, or
lawyers, or farmers, or laborers, as any
other citizens Senator Burrows has
been mislnformed, II he stated in good
faith that Senator Smoot belongs to a
Mormon hierarchy" IL he was not
misinforined, he simply took advantage
of his exalted position to repeat VIII
full falsehood about a large body OF
American citizens whose patriotism and
moral standing can suffer no lasting
damage by mud-sllnging. The term
'.hsSrarchy" was seized upon by unsoru-
pulous demagogues here and used for
effect upon unthinklng crowds. It's IN
PRODUCTION into the Senate was an as
sault upon the dignity OF that body.
Senator Burrows also erred when he
declared that this hierarchy had ia
ken hold OF the state offices. The Nor
mons" vote according to their political
convictions, as do any other citizens,
and are perfectly free in their choice
The so.oalled political rule" which
has been construed to mean Church
dictation in politics, expressly recog-
nizes the liberty Of every citizen. II
requires that men holding office in the
Church shall consult their brethren as
TO the adyisability OF entering active
politics as candidates for offices. II thJ
duties Of such Offices interfere with thC
performance of the duties they have
already assumed Who can object &c
that rule? Does not every organization
act upon a similar principle with re-
gard 10 its officers?
The entire argument of Senator Bur
rows Is to the effect that since Senator
Smoot belongs to a hierarchy" thai
aims at political control and teache,
immoral doctrines, he Is not entitled
to a seat IN the Senate. But, his prem
lses are utterly false Therefore hi,
conclusion is without warrant, and th,
exclusion OF any member OF the Sen
ate on such a plea would be virtually
an assault upon the great Instrumen
u liberty under the provisions OF which
the Senate exists.