The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-11-28
ON THE oITY's GROWTH.

Thursday evening" against the we'll
proved fact that the church leaders |
have held back this city aud hindcred |
the progress and development of the |
state by their narrow, bigoted ways.
They opposed all municipal improve |
ments here They have all along given |
IL out, both cold and hot, that tins |
was their country, and that the pres !
encc OF others was unweicome, espe-
cially when those others did not bow
the neck to the priestly yoke. They |
cite the fact that there have always
been Outsiders here, That is true,
but those outsiders have always been
held down. Some of them even felt
themselves obliged to pay uthing IN
order that they might obtain any sort
of standing or retain foothold here
The emphatic and fanatical outglving
has been uniform TO the effect that tins
was the inheritance of the saints, that
they had occupied it and intended to
hold it for themselves.
They have uniformly opposed public
| improvements. When sewers were sug-
pested here the church organ de-
Inounced the idea When sidewalks were
proposed tho priesthood objected. When
street paving was urged the prlestly
hands went up in horror. Nothing was
done until the Liberal party obtained
control of the city, and then be-
ginning was made against the vlrulent
opposition the church leaders, and VIII
ers. and their speakers.
When the Liberal party dissolved and
the control OF the city reverted TO the
priesthood, improvements were prompt
ly shut off to as great an extent as
possible. and all further progress Ian
ouished until the incoming of the
American party in 1905. The Amerl-
can party. the first two years of ITS
administration in this city, spent more,
lit spent it well, on public improvements
than had been spent in the lnterven-
ling twelve years under the priesthood
handicap. We all remember the meth
DDS that were employed. Part of the
time it was TO elect a reactionary ad-
ministration; part of the time to com
Ibine without regard to politics, as the
solid eight" in the council in the
last years of the Republican administra'
ton of the city government. -Four Re
publicans united with four Democrats
in the council 10 tie the Mayor s hands
and prevent anything being done, this
at the demand of the priesthood and
with the approval of the church organ
and of the church power.
The animus of the church leaders and
church supporters has been as fully
manifested against public improvements
during the time when the tools of the
church were not in control as when
5 they we're When their tools were II
D control, of course, they were safe II
the assurance that public work woulC
cease. Practically nothing was done
I And when the Liberal administration
{ was in control, opposition was mani
tested by yirulcnt, false, and scandalou!
attacks upon the party and its doings
y The same tactics have been renewed
;, with respect TO the American party
: When the improvements were begun II
the first years of the American part,
! rule. then the church outcry began, Jus
las before when the Liberals were II
. control. The church was objecting T.
everything. obiecting TO the work, oh
iecting TO the manner of doing tn
is work. and trying in every way possibl
It to sway the people in opposition t
n public improvements. These tactic
have been persisted in continually, an
were much in evidence last year, whe
c il was attempted 10 repave Maj
- street. That was work which it wa
20 clearly necessary to do, and yet In
minute IL was proposed the churc
agencies got busy and secured pledge
,r from Main street property ownei
against doing it. BY this. means the
-. postponed the work for one season, an
made themselves public nuisances
The constant action of the church m
church leaders has been selfish and e.
DC elusive. They have by their attituc
:, and their words warned cverybod
"a away. claiming this TO he the Mormc
country and showing plainly that u
~. presence of others, especially in nui
=. bers sufficient TO make them indepen
ent. was unwelcome. As long as u
-" church leaders could he in control
was inevitable that the city shou
- stand still The tactics of the chur'
-. lacencies arc against progress, again
-, advancement, and in favor, firmly al
80 determinedlv. Of holding their reg''
back as n sort of reservation for 1
Mormon church. The result was
70 evitable. Under church control the ci
tic languished. and in 1905 was actual
in retrograding
nc It comes with an i'll grace. thereto
with record of this kind at the ba
Of the church control, and with
ion constant and exclusive claim that q
1til was the Mormon country. that
,av Saints should not part with their -
eal heritance in Zion and that 9th
must keen out With President Jose
F.. Smith boasting that he had ne'