The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-01
AMERICANS HEAR
FRANK ]. CANNON
Former Senator Drives Truths
Home in a FOrceful
Manner.
CHURCH INTERFERENCE
DWELT UPON At LENGTH
Courtroom Is Crowded and the
Speaker Is Frequently
Applauded.

OGDEN, Oct. 3l.-An audlehco com
posed of representative men from ever
walk of life in Weber county ATTENDED
n big American party rally at the coun
ty court house tonight and listened
with close attention and great interes
20 addresses regarding the political con
ditions now confronting the people o!
the state, as outlined by the speakers
OF the evening.
Former Senator Frank j, Cannon was
the principal speaker. In his usual log
ical and eloquent manner he untoldeG
20 the audience the actions or the lead
ers of the Mormon church, urging those
present 10 embrace the political raltC
which he represents as the only solu
riou of priestly rule and church dom
nance in Utah. He carried his audi
ence back TO the year 1890, when the
political and social destinies OF this
state were in the hands Of the autbori
ties at Washington and when amnesty
was granted to the people of the state
only after the urgent request OF the
representative men OF the American
party OF today. From that time the
speaker carried his audience over the
succeeding years. pointing OUT ID force
ful language how the church has made
sought for priestly favor. His address
was closely followed lu1 WIS frequently
Interrupted by the applause from thc
audience.
Chairman ". NJ. Bostaph Of the cen.
trail committee preceded former Senator
Cannon with an address lasting ft-
teen minutes. The speaker. IN clear
cut and concise manner, explained the
mission of the American party ia Utah
II, ,,lx ,1Di Il ln :
sity OF every libertylaving and night
thinking citizen raily'ns To is sap
port. The courtroom w1s crowded 10
the limit by eager listeners. nctwith-
standing there were other polit'cAl r1i-
hes in the city. The address OF Mr.
Cannon, in part, is as follows:
Senator Cannon's Address.
Mr. Chairman and Friends-It has long
been generally understood that by q pro-
GEES Of political evolution. or poIltica!
revolution, this state must be saved for
the nation Ii this evolution Is Incffl-
Client there should not he q man or woman
n the state too old or frail 10 make bat
re. The triumph of either OF the great
rational parties is not so much an Issue
IN this state as II Is In others. The sicc-
lion Of Mr.. Bryan or Mr.. TAFT 10 the
presidency OF the United States, however
Important IL may be Tor the nation at
large, j. q minor issue here.
We have z problem facing Us which
demands the attention Of every thought
o.! citizen OF the stAJe-the wrestling Of
the right of franchise from the hands In
which IL i now held and restoring IL to its
proper owners There Is not 0 man or
woman present here who Is not diSfran-
chIsed. There Is scarcely an office hold
- in the state who docs not owe his cleo
ton 10 the smiles Of approval OF the pow
erS 10 he in salt Lake. The church not
only rules. but forces its favored ones 20
lie By denying that It tnterferes IL poll
tics. The very man today who procured
church consent iG the man who leads IN
saying the church doesn't Interfere.
Senator Smoot swore under oath 1t
Washington that before he became can
d.date Tor tho United States senate he
frst gained consent OF The other leaders
% the church. Now. what an apostle can {
do, David Mattson, Republican nominee
for state treasurer from this county, GER
Democratic candidate would Ike TO have.
We are after the man with the goods on
his person and not the man who would
Ike 70 have them.
Conditions in 1880.
Let us go back 20 the condition ol az
fairs prevalent IN tbls state In 1890. Pend
ing bills In congress threatened the peo-
pie OF Utah. More than 2000 had been
before the courts OF the United States on
the charge OF polygamy. The church lead
eds realized that the crisis had arrived.
DE Mormons had been in this state more
than forty years and had established
themselves and could not leave. so the
manifesto was Issued This was more
consolidation. remember making q per-
sonal visit 10 Secretary oil State James
g. Blaine, United States Senator Platt
and Congressman Strubell In Washing
ton, and begging them not TO disfran-
chise the people OF this territory. After
my appeal, the territorial commissioners
decided 10 withhold action upon my prom
.se, authorized b. the church, that polyg-
h.. ,f,.,.,
I returned 70 this state and Informed
President Wilford Woodruff OF the com
rnittee's action. and he said We were CO.
ing 10 carry out our promise. Notwlth-
standing this. President Woodruff said tc
me: we fear our own people Will re
bel but | said then. and know now
what the mass OF people wanted. and thai
was the abolition OF polygamous prac-
ticeS.
Joseph z. Accepts.
Al this conference. where the manifest,
was ultimately decided upon, I WAS tnc
only non -ecclesiast present. Every mar
present decided on the manifesto, anc
when the ehades OF evening were falling
Joseph z. Smith. the last man to do 40
accepted It's terms. after much argument
This was the only revelation OF God tina
was ever ratified by the people. a par
Of the same pledge made 10 the commit.
tee In Washington was that the church
would withdraw its hands.
Before President BENJAMIN Harrison
signed the amnesty proclamation he dc,
mandeG and received the assurance thn,
the church would abstain from any In
nucnce In the political affairs OF the gov.
crnment How well these comDacts hav,
been kept you are the judges. When Utal
was admitted 10 statehood. January 4
1896. ] was In congress. | never talked
politics with the leaders Of the church
bpt, before leaving for Washington.
asked the question OF George @. Cannon
my revered father. who, AT that time
4 0f ~ ror 81
candidate for United States senator (
my candidacy for the senate was goin,
20 he interfered with. I was told DO b,
the church lenders and By my fatho
also. saw Grover Cleveland sign IN.
statehood bill. and sent the pen whlcl
was used 10 this state. along with nag
HS'riuE the star representing Utah. To b.