Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-08
JACKSON BROS, 915 to 925 9TH St.
farmers were glad to get so cents and

farmers were glad to get so cents and
60 cents not long ago.
The farmers in this country are rich.
excepting here and there some mis-
fortunate" who would never succeed
in any place in any kind of business
under any circumstance. Three-fourtns
of them have money in the bank. They
have automobiles and fancy stock, car
riages. pianos, telephones. electric lights
and running water In their houses. and
send their young people to college. This
county. 1 am told. has sent more boys
to the agricultural college than any
other in Oregon, and as a rule. they
come back and. settle down on the
farms with a higher respect for the
soil.
Morality Of the Mormons.
This is a dry country and the prohi-
bition law is enforced That Is inva-
riably true of all Mormon settlements.
The Mormons may be very wicked peo-
pie, but they practice what the Gentiles
preach They are Industrious. temper
ate, thrifty, hospitable and honest in their
dealings. You seldom find an idle or a
dishonest Mormon. and. somehow or
another, they never patronize the poor
houses. They pay their debts and their
taxes: they keep the peace, feed and
clothe their children properly and fulfill
their contracts to the letter
The Mormons may be very bad peo-
pie and the Gentiles may be very good
people. but you never find a Mormon
keeping a saloon or a dance house or a
gambling hell or any other disreputable
resort. When there is fight over the
temperance issue you will find 93 per
cent OF the Mormons. voting for prohibi-
they settle they take their prohibition
sentiments with them. Nobody ever
heard q Mormon say that whisky selling
was necessary to promote the prosperity
mon make a speech in favor Of what is
called personal liberty" or "a free Sun
day."
Liquor selling and liquor drinking are
strictly prohibited by the Mormon
Church; no man who sells or drinks liq
uor Is admitted to fellowship in any way,
aad am told that President Smith. who
Is now at the head of the Mormon
Church. Is more strict than any of his
predecessors have been in the enforce.
eral resolution on prohibition was adopt
ed by the Mormon conference which has
since been confirmed and ratified by al
most every state" in the country.
MormOns are also forbidden to use to-
bacco. No man can teach In a Sunday
school or hold an Office under the Nor
mon Church who uses tobacco or liquor
In any form, and an elder cannot drink
either tea OF COHee, because Iney are
considered stimulants No tobacco is sold
frf any of the cooperative stores conduct
ed by the Church, and while the rule
may be laxly enforced In certain places
1t is strictly adhered to in 50 per cent of
the Mormon communities.
Tabernacle at La Grande.
The Mormon tabernacle at La Grande is
the largest auditorium in eastern
Oregon. and mass meetings. secular
and political meetings and Fourth of July
celebrations are held here The Grand
Lodge of Odd Fellows held it's annual
convention here last year. The Mormons
are not clannish. They mix with the
members of other denominations quite
as freely as the Methodists mix with the
Episcopalians. and are divided in politi-
cal opinions. In nominating candidates
for ONCE. In selecting committees and
other leaders of public movements, the
people never inquire about a mans re-
ligious belief or UNCONVENTIONAL connec-
ance Union, which is quite strong here,
is composed OF ladies from the Mormon
Tabernacle as well as from the other
congregations.
There has never been any polygamy
here. Few, If any, of the original Nor
mon settlers had plural wives. \ gen.
tleman who is thoroughly acquainted tells
me that he has never known plural
family in the county. And there have
been no violations of the Edmunds act,
forbidding polygamy. In conversation the
Mormons will assert their adherence to
the doctrines taught by Brigham Young
and will insist that there Is no greater
wrong In plural marriages today than
In the days of the patriarchs OF the
Bible: but at the same time they agree
that the Constitution and the laws which
forbid polygamy should be obeyed by
all citizens regardless of their PERSONAL
opinions. A Mormon gentleman said to
me:
.'You and I may differ as to the wisdom
or the justice OF many laws passed by
our legislative bodies. They may be re-
pugnant to our consciences: they may
seem tyrannicaI and unjust like the rail-