The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-07
A FIGHT TILL VICTORY.

years or SO been extremely anxious for
the dissolution OF the American party
1t announced when the vote seating
Apostle Smoot was taken in the Sen
ate that there was no further reason
tor the existence of the American party,
and 1t would be just as we'll for that
party to dissolve But the America u
| party was not founded on the Smoot
contest. That contest was instituted a
considerable time prior TO the organ
! ization of the American party. And,
although the American party's prelimi-
nary organization in the spring of 1904
was based upon the shocking testimony
delivered IN that case, especially by
President Smith, the whole question Of
tho lawlessness Of the church leaders.
their interference in politics, civil af-
fairs, and business, their intrusion into
the schools with their religion classes,
all came under the censure Of the Amer
ican party organizers, and op these
propositions that party was formed
And no peace can come to Utah until
American principles prevail.
The Deseret News again now calls for
the dissolution of the American party.
and announces that in it's Judgment there
is 'Eutter absence Of any rational rea.
son - for the continued existence Of the
American party. On the contrary, there
is greater reason than ever for the
existence of that party: and there is
more certainty than ever of the triumph
of it's principles. For the contention
OF the American party that tho church
lis in politics III direct violation Of
pledges made and in clear contravcn.
tion or the Constitution, is now abso-
luteIy demonstrated. Tho course of
the stake presidents of the church in
this city and county who, following the
lead of President Smith in his politi-
cal stump speech In the October confer
ence, got active in the interest of the
Republican party, absolutely demon.
strates that the church is in politics.
The fact, further, that this intrusion
OF these stake presidents into politics
was decisive and did, in fact, turn the
bulk of Tho Democratic party into the
Republican ranks, shows the danger that
threatens the people hero in that church
interference. OF course, those who in
the past have studied the election re
turns were fully convinced all the time
of tho meddlesomepess of the priest
hood in politics and their control over
their people without regard TO party
lines, But those who did not make such
study thought perhaps the church de.
nial of such intrusion in politics might
be true. Now, however, there is not
the least reason for any one to imagine
that the church is not in politics. That
is matter that we no longer need
to prove; everybody knows it, every
body sees it, everybody is aware of tho
result, This very fact calls louder than
ever for the continued existence of
the American party.
When we consider this proof of the
Increased need of the American party
and note, further, that the American
party is now stronger than il ever was
before. the call from the opposition for
tho disbandment of that party must nee
essarily be treated with the coptemptu
GUS ridicuIe that it's puerility demands.
The church organ continues its cry
that the contention which the Mormon .
church raises against Americanism. that
the American party is injurious 10 the
politics OF this State, is hurtful ia bpsi
ness, is so clearly demonstrated to be
a falsehood that no one need pay the
least attention to it, There never was
any period in the history of the CITY
when the progress and growth Of Salt
Lake were at all comparable with that
progress and growth during the admin
istration OF the American party. The
victory OF the American party in this
city in 1905 called the attention Of the
country directly to the fact that tb;s
city had cleared itself from ccclesiasti,
cal bondage, The reiteration of that
victory in 1907 with increased power
and vehemence, reinforced tho propo.
sition through the country that Salt
Lake is now free city. and with it's
tactical advantages being so well known
ii was a good city to move TO and
bring IN capital for investment and
the development Of the country. Ac.
cordinely this result followed III such a
torrent rs was never before known.
Population and wealth increased in I'm
prec edented volume.
Americanism is the vital force of the
business situation here. the effective
stimulant Of the city's growth in popu.
lation, prosperity. and wealth. There !
is 10 sort Of doubt about this; there is
no sort of doubt about the growth on
all these lines; there is no sort of
doubt OF the fact thnt this growth was
under the auspices of the American
party, and that save under the auspices
of that party now aad of the old Lib
eral party in its time. there has never
been any advancement worth speaking !
Of in Salt Lake. The old reactionary |
element here when given control is al !,
ways opposed to public improvements. |
II always opposes any advance sug-