The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-10-22
WHAT THEY ENDURE.

It should be a matter of profound in
tercst to Gcntile members Of the two
church political quorums in Utah 10
study some of the "pecuharities for
which their parties must stand as pro
tectors so long as they are in any kind
of affiliation with the hierarchy, and
| even so long as they do not come out
! in open and resolute opposition to the
| improper practices of the church. In
| considering this important subject they
| should realize that the sole purpose Of
| Joseph f. Smith in his maintenance of
| political control in this State by either
of the two National parties is that he
and his kind 'may be left alone, - TO
quote the favorite expression of apollo
glsts for law breaking.
Gentle adherents of the two political
quorums Of the church, here are some
suggestions which may deserve your at
tention;
In March, 1904, Joseph F. Smith,
mon church, testified at Washington
concerning his conduct in life, and when
his own lawbreaking was being con
fessed by himself he made this astonish
ing and humihating plea: 81 would
like TO say, Mr.. Chairman, if you please,
that it is very embarrassing and try
ing TO me to publicly announce my pri-
vate domestic affairs before this com
mittee.
President Smith returned TO Salt
Lake from Washington, was received
with loud acclaim Of Joyous victory,
enjoyed himself at a multiple conJugal
reception and continued openly the
practice Of those ''prlvate domestic af-
fairs TO speak of which had been so
81 embarrassing TO him at Washing
ton. And later, in the conference of
his assembled Israel, ne pointed the
following tremendous criticism against
himself:
Let every man live so that his character
will bear the closest inspection. and that It
may be seen an open book, so that he VIII
have nothing TO shrink from and be ashamed
OF.
Gentle members Of the church po-
litical quorums, YOU must stand (will-
fully or ignorantly) as protectors of
and apologists for that kind of hy-
pocrIsy-although the chief prophet
himself in recent sermon was for the
moment so ashamed of his own course,
and so unable to defend it, that he
made the following abjcct acknowledge
ment:
it is not my purpose to stand here and try
70 make any apology or 10 offer any defense
OF my own course. OF my own life and la
bors.
However, President Smith may be
bTaZen or ashamed-it makes little diff
ference TO him which-so long as
through Gentle alliance with the church
political quorums ne can be assured
that he stands as the most powerful,
influential and officially ydefended alien
in Utah. Just so long Will Joseph f.
Smith be seeking church alliance.
And even if you could find it con-
sistent to defend those things as the
mere wrongdoing of one man whose life
will some time (n,ay it be years hence)
come to an end, there are graver COM
munity wrongs, and you have your
share In their perpetuation so long as,
by aifiliation with his political quorums,
you maintain him in his tyranny.
Ia Salt Lake county the Gentiles and
the Mormons arc approximately equally
divided. In Salt Lake county the Gen
tiles pay the greater part of the taxes.
In Salt Lake county about eighty per
cent of the poor fund is utilized to as
sist INDECENT Mormons. In Salt Lake
county the Mormon church collects tith
ing ostensibly for church purposes, and
it makes Mormous pay to innumerabIe
othey funds for the maintenance Of its
poor, for meeting houses, for mission
aries, and for numerous other purposes.
In Salt Lake county the Mormon
church has been known to collect tithing
from its own poor, aud paid by these
poor ont of the help received from the
county poor fund.
Aud thus. while Gcntiles are burdencd
with heavy taxation for general pur-
poses and for the poor, the chief hic-
rarch gathers annually about two mil
IOnS OF b1il1tc from Ine WemneIS OF
bis church. and vet he foists his poor
upon the county charge. and from the
money extended to them for outdoor
relief OUT of your taxes he eXacts his
blood money Of ten per cent
For all this wrong against Mormons
who are compelled TO contribute ten per
cent annually Of all their income, and |
against yourselves who find your taxes
tithcd Tor his grandeur-you Gentle
adherents OF the two church political
quorUms must stand so long as Joseph !
F. Smith and his sycophants are in pow,
er IN the State.
The exposure of Joseph f. Smith s
mode of living. coupled with the fact
that he is protected by the officers of |
the law. submitted Utah tn a greater
condemnation abroad than she had ever
before suffered. She is still enduring |