The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1909-08-28
the THATCHER CASE

Saturday night at Logan, Utah oc-
CURED the death of Moses Thatcher,
prominent business man of Utah, and
formerly a prominent politician and
an apostle of the Mormon church.
The death of Hon. Moses Thatcher
recalls the famous church officially
wherein the Mormon church officially
resumed political interference and
dictation. Except for short interval
during the presidency of President
Woodruff, the Mormon church has
dictated and attended to political de-
tails of all kinds. This is openly
charged and cannot be successfully
denied. When Utah was admitted
into the Union it was with the un-
Outstanding that polygamy was to be
abolished and the Mormons left free
to follow their individual inclinations
in political affairs. This Moses
Thatcher attempted to do, but soon
found himself out of harmony with
the authorities of the church and was
compelled to resign his apostolate,
and only by submitting was he enabled
to retain his fellowship in the church.
In the fall of 1905, Hons,
Moses Thatcher and Joseph l..
Rawlips were nominated by the
Democratic Territorial convention to
be elected United States senator's by
the legislature, which was to meet in
January, 1896. Statehood was then
pending. The legislature happened to
be Republican, and Hons. Frank j.
Cannon and Arthur Brown were elect
ed, the first for the four-year and
the latter for the two-year term. Two
years later Mr.. Thatcher was the
candidate to succeed Senator Brown,
but in defiance of the political mani
festo adopted by the church April 6,
1896. This manifesto promulgated
the ruling that officials in the church
couldn't seek political prsfsrment with
out the consent of the church authori-
ties. In other words the political des-
tiny of high churchmen was placed
under the control of the presidency
and apostles of the church, Mr..
Thatcher as an apostle, felt that this
manifesto infringed upon his rights
as an American citizen and re-
fused to subscribe thereto. On account
of the opposition of the church an
thorities engenderedl by this stand, he
was defeated, and Mr.. Rawlins was
elected Mr., Thatcher lost his apps-
tolate and came near, being disfellow-
SHIPPED. In fact he saved himself only
by accepting the decree, of the church.
In, speaking of. the manifesto, Mr..
Thatcher said:
"As have already stated, under
stood the manifesto at the time it
was handed me for approval just as
l understand it now. While it osten-
sibly appeared not to restrict the lib
critics of the people, yet there was no
| limitation to its application, and in
view of the fact that nearly every
male member of the church holds
some Office, and, as there has as yet
been no public decision announced as
to the officers to be controlled by it,
there have arisen disputes and differ
ences of opinion as to it's intent.
This being true, and the danger being
that it could be applied to restrict the
liberties of the people, l cannot sus-
tain it.. l thought then, as l think
now, that such course would be
qualification. l had never dreamed
that a condition would arise in my
life where could not serve God fully
and yet yield my complete allegiance
to my country and to my state. The
spirit of the manifesto, as it appealed
TO me, was in violent antagonism to
all l had believed and publicly pro-