The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-09-23

to offer the following amendment:
I'VE favor the absolute separation OF
church and state. in both theory and in
practice, and are equally opposed to
assaults upon religious organizations
by political parties. While we recog-
niZe the right of any citizen TO aspire
to a political office, we affirm unequiv-
ocally that it is contrary to the spirit
and genius of the American govern
ment for a man to hold, at the same
time, one of the highest and most au-
thoritative offices in a church and also
one of the most responsible offices
within the gift of the commonwealth.
I'VE affirm that the persistent, inn
proper commingling of political and re-
iigious matter by the Republican party
of this state has resulted I'm bitter po-
litical strife, has created diStrust ano
political unrest in the minds of many
of our best citizens. and is reviving
bitter religious preiudices and antagon-
isms that all had agreed to bury.
These conditions are most serious
menace to our peace, progress and the
material development of the state If
continued they will inevitably divide
our people politically along religious
lines.
1--WE pledge the Democratic party to
stand free from all such methods and
influences, and we call upon every citi-
zen who believes in the dignity OF
American citizenship, honest govern
ment and the prosperity of the state to
vote with us in this election as the
only means of bringing peace with
honor to our beloved Utah.
Moyle Speaks His Mind.
Mr.. Moyle. speaking to his amendment,
said that Democrats in every secton OF
he Gfat
Republican party. he said is TO blame;
not the church. The heads of the church
have declared the position OF the church,
which is in absolute accord with all the
contentious of the Democratic party The
Republican party once essayed TO win
with money Finding this a failure. 1t
sought in inveigle the church into poll
tics.
''The point we have to meet" Mr.. Moyle
continued. lis this: A high ecclesiastical
office is being used as the chief asset
of the Republican party IN THIS state
The holder of this office is surrounded
by q coterie of men known as the fed
eral bunch. Think OF the conditions they
have caused-four years ago they forced
a business man, ignorant of politics but
clean and successful in business. and hon
orable. to run for the office of governor.
For a time he was docile, but when he
became familiar with his duty, he threw
off the yoke Then they turned against
him. He aspired again to the governor
Ship and gave out a letter announcing
his candidacy. A few days later he is
sued a second letter withdrawing his can
didacy Why? Ask him. Because he
knew that the federal machine was all
powerful and would destroy him so that
he would not have chance of success.
Do the people rule? No, not in Utah.
Some of my Democratic friends tell
me if we say anything about this we
will lose votes. They say it is an at
tack on the church. Where is the at
tack? l want to say, if the church is at
tackled ] will be the first man to go to
its defense, else l am not the man think
l am
Offensive to Decent Men.
1T is a foul asperslon on honest men
to say that in taking this position the
Democratic party is attacking the church.
when il is solely attacking the Repub-
lican party. which has become so often
sive to decent men by reason of its drag
ging into the political arena that which
should have been held sacred. l do not
deny the right of any man to any of
flee. l would and have defended Reed
Shoots right to the United States SEN
atorship. but his holding such an office,
along with the apostleship, is as incon-
sistent and as great improperly as if
he should go into the saloon business"
Mr.. Moyle paid his compliments to the
| members of the federal machine, and then
| continued:
IF we do not meet this issue. we are
not worthy of the Democratic party. This
issue will not down until it is settled
right, no matter whether 1t is this cam
paign or some succeeding campaign. We
| ask nothing except what is contained in
| the fundamental law of the state and Is
a basic principle of the declaration of the
church. The church is not in politics
Men high in the church may get into pol
| itics, but the church is not in politics.
| Mr.. Moyle concluded with the appeal:
| Let us have an honest expression OF
what we believe"
| speaker.
Speaks Against Amendment
81 was in hope that / could attend one
convention ar which this question would
| be eliminated he said. 1T is an old
| story, and it has been told too often |
! have attended every Democratic conven-
| ton in Utah since the state was organ
| lied and I have had this story dinned in
my ear until l am tired of it. / have been
a Democrat for years and do not sur
render my loyalty to the Democratic
| party to any man on earth. Let us drop
| this old and useless discussion. The Com
| moner and his mate and the platform
| adopted by the Democratic convention at
Denver are good enough for us to make
| this race upon.
For my part, l don't propose to be
| dragged into this everlasting conflict.
We're not stuck on Brother Smoot in San
| pete. We have seen the working of the
Smoot machine and the disaster IL has
4
anything disrespectful or undignified
| when l say that 1 would like to win
once"
| When Mr.. Judd resumed his seat. ]. G..
NJ. Barnes of Davis county was recoS-
nized by the chair.
lone of the speakers has said that the
| Mormon church is not in politics." said
Mr. Barnes. IF that is true, there is no
sense in adopting the amendment to our
| platform am against the amendment
and in favor of the platform as it was
reported"
j. d. Call of Box Elder county then
took up the discussion. The effect of
! the proposed amendment he said. lis
to declare that the church and the state
should be separated AS the constitution
of Utah attends to that. why plant the red
shirt when there is no need of il?
AT the Denver convention an effort
was made to bring in the Mormon ques-
ton in preparing the platform. but it was
| fought down by Judge King and others.
Why bring up the question again here?
Has 1t been announced that Reed
Smoot is the church candidate? Can we
saw that he is and make II so?
| ~"Who are the men who are chiefly agi-
tating this question? The delegates from
Salt Lake county? Are they able to show
that they can defeat the Republican and
! the Americans in their own county,"
There were some shouts of yes
I'VE can carry Box Elder county If
we are given the right sort OF Democratic
/ PLATFORM" continued Mr.. Call. "Why
/ hamper us with the adoption of this
amendment 1t viii only Sserve to drive
the people from the Democratic ranks