The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-03-18
THE SUTHERLAND EXCUSE.

A friend of Mr.. George Sutherland
tells The Tribune that Mr.. Sutherland
is one OF the most active forces now
being cxcrted in opposition to the tri-
umphant rule of the Mormon church
in politics-that he will always be-
resistant TO priestly aggression upon
the rights of the people; and that, for
the reason that Sutherland is aiming
at the same end which is the obicct
of mighty battle by the American
party, his hands should be upheld, the
Americans should cease 10 criticize
him, and The Tribune should commend
him.
Answer: Under the priestly rule Of
the prophets of the Mormon church
few years ago. George Sutherland was
nm opponent of then existing conditions.
In the candidacy and political domina
ton of Reed Smoot, an apostle of the
Mormon church, George Sutherland was
an opponent. In the days of the long
struggle TO bring better conditions to
Utah, TO terminate polygamous practice,
to obliterate priestly control in politics,
TO bring To an end monopolistic CONNER
cial combine by the church; Mr.. Suth
erland was counted as one of the able
and one of the intense aids to the re-
form.
All of the evils against which the
former controversy was waged still eN~
ist. Mr. George Sutherland cannot
truthfully deny that polygamy still
prevails, that political domination by
the priests is effective, that the rule
in temporal affairs is as absolute as
in any period of the Mormon church.
But the activity of George Suthcr-
land is directed with all the force
which he can impart thcreto-to a
resistance against the work of reform
and to attacks upon the party Of re.
form
In the old days Mr., George Suther-
present position Jack Mormon; and
Mr.. George Sutherland and all other
Liberals of his time realized that a
JackMormon was more injurious 10
the advancing Liberal cause than was
a straight Mormon. BY the logic and
by the experience, Mr.. Sutherland is
today greater injury to the cause
which his friends claim is his cause
than would be known priest of the
church.
The best excuse that Mr.. Suther
land S friends offer for him is that
L a., ,...lN
the American party stands; namely,
a fulfillment by the leaders of the
Mormon church of the conditions
which they voluntarily created or ac-
cepted as a basis for Statehood. That
which George Sutherland 5 opponents
and critics say of him is that-accept.
ING the plea of his friends, he is less
entitled to respect than ever; for if he
believes in reforming Utah he IS doubly
ignoble in contending against that re-
form.
The Tribune does not think that it
is unfair to Illustrate Sutherland s en-
tire attitude, throughout his whole
career in Utah, by a recital of this
When George Suthcr-
land wanted TO go to the Senate of
the United Statcs-prcvious to the
election of Reed Smoot-Mr. Sutherland
was the most intense opponent of an
apostle in politics; he could sec all
the evils Of ecclesiastical domination in
this State. When, by the consent, at
least, of the ecclesiasts in politics. Mr.
subsequently attained TO the
Senatorship, Mr.. Sutherland became the
best friend of the ecclcsiasts in politics,
If his friends can find any comfort IN
the facts, as they know them to be
segregated from the specious excuses all
too ready upon his lips-they arc wei
come to that comfort.