Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-10-14
A FUNNY PROOF

The discussion OF tHr question of
Church iuterfcrer.o with politics has
had the effect or convincing many 90
the fact that There is absolutely uo
fuundatio for Jhe charges of tho anu-
"MormonJ uf course. the special
pleaders/for partisan cause continue
their assertions. uslnuatlous. and so-
phistlfm deductions iu the face Of
the fuost convincing proofs To- the cone
trQfy But to the thinking and re1-
slnIur reader the truth U.s. clear enough.
The Church has mo- political candidate
The Church does not aspire to political
power The Church does not interfere
in the unalrs of the state.
one of tho most convincing proofs
OF this is furnished by tine opposition
press Itself For instance the othor
day The anti Mormon sheet had "a
story about one Mr. Bowen opposing
an alleged "Church candidate" for O.
municipal office. We denied that the
Church had amy candidate at the timo
referred to. or amy other Time for that
matter And we asked. at what Con-
did The Church place a candidate Do the
field that Mr. Bowen could opposoe Wa
pointed out that. 81 thoro was % Church
candidate o. should Doe easy 20 tell
the public at what church gathering
his candidacy was proposed and accept
Cd
To this the sheet replied that sena-
tor smoot asked his associates, meaning
the First Presidency and the Council
Of the Twelve. for their consent for him
60 become candidate before the Legis-
laturc for Senator Of the United states.
Crribuno editorial oct 40. This is
tlS most stunning logic that ever came
under our observation. The question
s.; A. what church meeting was the
alleged church candidate for municipal
office. whom Mr. Bowen opposed. ape
pointed? and The answer is. Senator
Smoot asked his associates If they had
any objection 20 him going before the
Legislature az candidate for the
United States Senate Can any RAJ
tional mind trace the connection be-
tween the question aud the answer
Il reminds us OF the story of the I'M
dustri0us farmer who was standing
by his wood pile one day. shaping
tool lie was hard of hearing Seeing
a stranger coming down the road the
deaf man made up his mind that the
first question he would Doe likely 10 be-
asked would bee. what are you maxi
ing2" and he prepared his answer acc
cordlugly But the stranger, Ia pass
ing. merely said how do you do2 ana
when the farmer answered. "ax-handle."
he naturally thought the poor fellow
had lost his mind such is the Tribune
logic. What "A confession OF utter de-
feat. is the resort to such gibberish'
As 10 the political rule which seems
20 bother the anti-"Mormon' sheet, IL
was proved IN the Senate and accepted
by that body as "a fact. that lbs sole
purport and effect IS that High Church
officials. filling positions which require
them 90 give their time 90 ecclesiastical
duties. shall not enter into any engage
ments of any kind political or other
wise. which require them 10 abandon or
neglect such ecclesiastical duties With
ont first obtaining tho consent % the
authorities OF the church. The rule
itself &c was proved. leaves every man
perfectly free ~ provides that II any
officer of the church wishes 90 become
candidate for political office, or Co
enter into any other engagement which
VIII interfere with the duties of mis-
church office. hc can DO sa without OBJ
tamlng the consent of anybody hy Rec
signing from his ecclesiastical position.
Can amy rule be nlrer than that'
10 should be remembered chat the
questions relating 20 this subject were
thoroughly siuod before the Senate
and found 10 contain no basis FOR the
attack upon Church officials. or the
Church. Those who arc now attack
ing the church are at the Same uma
leading iu assaults upon the United
states Senate though they cal theme
selves Americans