The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-03-16
sPRY'S THIRD HOUSE.

| The legal time for the Legislature
I has expired, but the hard working law
| makers are still at their task, laborlng
without pay for the good of the com
monwealth. Meantime upon this earn
est body of men there has been intrudcd
an eXtraneous personality whose pres
ence is malignant indication of con
tinuel malignant condition in political
affairs.
The United States Marshal, speaking
for the presldent-thc president Of the
Mormon church in this case-has opened
the Third House at the State capitol,
and has been directing, in the closing
hours, the action of Legislators upon
important measures The Intervention
of the United States Marshal in the
Legislature Of this State is of itself
an indecency; ii is contrary TO the rules
laid down in Washington; it is per
nicious activity; ii is an invasion by n
cheap executive Of the dignitics and
rights of the lawmaking department.
1t is doubly evil, for the United States
Marshal is the representative of the
Federal power; and tho State Legisla-
ture has an existence and a duty en-
tircly apart thcrefrom,
But even the insoence of this in
trusion, in its Federal aspect of double
reprehensIblcness, is not the chief Of
fense committed by the dictatorship in
the Third House The United States
Marshal, in this matter, represents the
ecclesiastical authority. For his aids
he has group of persons known as the
Federal bunch. Their word is tho au-
thoritative and conclusive word from
church headquarters.
Here is the situation: Every legisla-
tor, who is in any sense supposed TO be
amcnable to church direction, knows
that the church view will reach him in
some way. When the impudent assump
tion is made by the Spry lobby that
this is the right thing to do; this is
what is desired; this is what our friends
wish, " etc; every legislator assumes
in default of any contradiction by any
other parsonage of equal rank as an
emissary from church headquarters
that the message comes from the Bee
Hive House. That is so indisputably
the course Of things in Utah. Idaho and
surrounding country that the method
has become crystalized and is as ef-
fective as if the prophet were TO ap
pear in person and offer his instruc-
tlons. Occasionally dispute arises
between cmissaries, and, should any
serious contradiction upon any import
ant matter occur, legislator knows
how TO resolve the difficulty by making
a mere inquiry as to who is tho author.
lied representative upon this particular
matter. AS Il rule such controversies
do not occur. The machine operates
with too much eXacttude for that In
the present case there is no danger of
any such contretemps. Tho lobby af-
fects 10 speak for Others and the
lobby is uncontradicted by any one
known to be equally familiar of Goth
ers. - Every legislator who cares to
be III accord with "others' may take
his cue if he will. Failing TO take it,
he knows the consequences.
The effect of this pernicious activity
is shown in the insolent disregard of
the rights of Senator Benner X. Smith,
as chairman of an important commit
tee. without even a request upon him
for committee call, without his being
advised of tho necessity for commit
tee meeting, report upon an important
measure is prepared, signed and offered
to the Legislature.
Men came together for the Utah |
Legislature, desirous of discharging |
their duties according TO their oath and |
the needs of the State. But one in
flucnce existed which could in any pos,
sible way sway them from an honorable
discharge of their honorable duty. II
was promised that such influence sbonld |
not be eXerted. Senator Sutherland
among others, has been strong in the
assertion that no such Influence has
been used by the present head of the
church And yet we see it. in absolute
evidence under the direction of Sprv.
United States Marshal; aud so arrogant
is the Influence in expressing itself
that the ordinary amenities which pre-
vail, between members of committee
and chairman, are cast to the winds
in order to facilitate the purpose of
that influence. While Governors and
legislators in other States have been
casting the bosses out Of State capitols
In some instances sending them TO
jail for their criminal work, man
holding the commission of United States
Marshal from President Roosevelt has
been exercising the worst possible form
'f boss-shIp, has been expressing the