The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-11-10
STICK TorHE FACTS.


regret. the Deseret News deplores The
Herald's news reports indicating the
use of church influence in the recent
election on behalf of the Republican
party and denies that any such in
f1uence was eXerted. 1t attributes the
result. entirely to the bitterness and
fear aroused by the American" cam
paign. Reciting the record of "Ameri-
can NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and referring
to the Sheets case, the News contin-
ues:
Why then can it CThe Herald) not see
something else than church influence"
as the handspring in the action of those
Democrats who are said TO have voted
with the Republicans on Tuesday? If it
be true that 5000 Democrats Joined with
their traditional opponents in order to
drive out the diSreputable crew that is
fast wrecking Salt Lake City and would
fain wreck Salt Lake county and the en-
tire state Of Utah in this manner. is it
not just possible that those Democrats
voted their convictions. and that there
was no need of any outside influence in
the premises?
Are the people of Utah so morally dense
that they do not know the difference be-
tween right and wrong? Are they so
color blind that they cannot distinguish
between black and white without being
mismanagement OF public affairs that
constitutes the record of the american
administration in Salt Lake City furn-
fshes them with the only motive they
need in working for its overthrow? They
have only to read the papers and reflect
for themselves. and they are qualified
without any further advice to act intelli-
gently against the prevailing evil There
was no need of church dictation: il would
have been superfluous element and as a
matter of fact no such dictatiOn or undue
influence of dnV Kind WAS nSpd
Assuming as a return courtesy that
the Deseret News believes what it says.
The Herald would like to offer a few
comments on this statement-not as a
political matter at all but merely to
complete the record.
If by church influence is meant the
act of the whole body of church for
nnally assembled, there was no church
influence; but If the common meaning
of that term in Utah is to define the
truth. church influence was used and
used so palpably that there could be
no mistaking it's intent President 10.
seph f. SMITHS editorial in the I'm
provement Era was plain intimation
that he desired the election OF the Re
publican ticket. The News editorial
declaring there was no "Smoot ma
chine" was accepted as a defense of
the Republicans and a suggestion that
Senator Shoots organization had the
church seal of approval Bishops of
the church exerted their influence with
members under their jurisdiction to get
them to vote for the Republican tick
ct. Mormon Democratic employees of
The Herald were openly advised by
their church superior officials TO vote
the Republican ticket. Multiplied in
stances came to the notice of the Demo-
cratic county and state committee
where church officials were busy trans
ferrifig Democratic voters into the Re
publican column. Chairman Martin
eau. himself good Mormon and good
Democrat, knew personally of such
cases and personally demonstrated with
the officials who abused their eccIesias-
teal authority for political purposes
Church influence was used, used open
ly-and only for the Republican ticket
any bitterness or feeling. 1t recognizes
the unfairness of the American" atti-
tude and methods of campaign and the
natural resentment of the Mormons
that arises from that attitude. 1t be-
lieves the Mormon people are as body
good citizens and desire to do right
It has no sympathy with the indictment
of a whole people and the renewal of
the old issues that have distracted the
state in bygone days.
But. conceding the wrongdoing of
the Americans" granting the natural
ness of the church desire to defeat
them. there can be no excuse now for
rnisstating facts and denying palpable
truths. Church influence was used in
this election and it was used solely for
the benefit OF the Republican party TO
the practical destruction, for the time
being. of the Democratic party; and
the men who are responsible need not