The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-06-26
BOGUS CLAIM OF LIBERTY.

| poliIlcdi nDeItys OF preferably the lack
of ii, within the Mormon church, there
are some facts to which The Tribune
will call the attention Of the Deseret
News, in the hope that the church or
gan may be able to lend some enlight-
eminent where it seems to be mostly
needed-among the Mormon people.
Apostles John w. Taylor and Ma
thias F. Cowley were removed from
| their quorum primarily on account of
the great danger which the retention of
their presence in that body presented
to the hlerarchical embassadorship as
represented in Apostle Smoot's Sena-
torship. At the time of their ousting
1t was given out as a fact that they
were ''out of harmony with the coun-
cil.' But growing out of this was the
real cause, as will presently be shown.
Very lately the Deseret News has
been trying to prove that this inhar-
mony came about through difference
of opinion as to the scope Of the Wood
ruff manifesto concerning the polyga-
nous practices of the church, as en-
gagged In at the present time, That
contention we consider to have been
disposed of in two propositions. One
is that Taylor letter shows that he
claimed to be living up to the written
word of the manifesto as adopted pub
licly and authoritatively by the church
He, however, did not claim to regard
as binding the unadopted interpreta-
tion of Woodruff that the prohibitory
document was intended to cover po~
lygamous marriage all over the world.
He took the literal word for it and is,
impliedly, living his religion under
a foreign flag. That is TO say, he is
not breaking "the law of the land, "
inasmuch as he has practiced polygamy
outside the jurisdiction of the coun.
try. Therefore, he claims that he is'
not breaking the law, and is at the
same time obeyIng the Woodruff mani
festo, as it was adopted by the church
Now, the second proposition is that
the leaders of the Mormon church who
are still in office, and whose harmoni
Gus attitude upon this matter of po-
lygamy has never been questioned with.
in that organization, claim also that
they. are abiding by the literal written
word of the Woodruff manifesto; but
they do not pretend TO accept the other
officially unadopted Interpretation of
Woodruff; that the prohibitory docu,
ment inhibited polygamous living as
well as new marriage. Like Taylor,
they assert that they are not literally
breaking the law of the land, and they
also, in company with the deposed apos-
tie, claim that they are abiding by the
Woodruff manifesto as it was adopted
by the church.
Relatively occupying positions based
upon the same premises, will the Des.
eret News determine for an uninspjred
public wherein the difference exists!
Will it show why Taylor should be re-
moved for living his religion, confniug
his acts in a conformity TO the
written word of the manifesto; and
why, at the same time, Joseph i,
Smith, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry
Smith, Heber j. Grant Brigham II.
Roberts and others should be sustained
in high position in the church, while
they are doing precisely as Taylor is
doing-obeying the literal word of the
Woodruff revelation7
Again, if the matter of new polyg
amy is sufficient cause for the depos-
tion of Apostles Taylor and Cowley,
who are engaging in it outside of this
country, why is it that other men are
advanced in church place, protected by
all the power of the church, and even
pushed into political prominence, when
they have practiced new polygamy
within the confines of the United
States-and even within stone q throw
of the Bee Hive bouse? The Deseret
News knows, equally well with The
Tribune, that polygamy is the pet i'm
morality OF the church leaders, and
that the removal of Taylor and Cow 4
ley came about for another cause. AS
repeatedly indicated by this paper,
there were two reasons for Taylor's
removal: One was the moral effect his
deposition would have in the political
salvation of Apostle Smoot, and the
other was his rebellion against the die
tation of the prophet in civil affairs.
Joseph F. Smith had commanded Taylor
to appear before the Senate committee
at Washington TO testify in behalf of
Smoot-to do the prophet a political
service-hut Taylor said him nay; and
there was the end OF Apostle Taylor
and the birth Of plain Elder Taylor
The man did not dare to rebel against
this autocracy of the king of the king
dom of God on earth, for the reason
that the prophetic hate would 90 so
far as TO land him in Jail in the event
of too pronounced obstinacy So Tay-
lor is out of the apostleship, and also
remains out Of prison. Joseph +. Smith
possessed knowledge of the evidence
which would convict Taylor He used
it TO compel his abdication from his
high position, as a punishment for re-
bellion against the prophets secular
power Joseph +. Smith possesses