The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-11-23
THE RUINOUS TITHE-TAX

Editor Tribune-!n former communi-
cations have shown by absolute
demonstration:
L. That the tithing tax (assistcd by
church compctition) put Mormon mer'
chants and Mormon business men TO
such disadvantage in Salt Lake City
| that they were unable TO compete IN
the struggle for supremacy. Result:
The bulk of business Of all kinds, and
larger portion of the wealth, of the
city, is in Gentle hands.
,. That this same tthing tax Ito.
gethcr with various other priesthood
grafts) annually devours the profit or
surplus capital the farmer should de-
vote TO the improvement Of premises, re.
ncwal of soil and education OF chill
dren. The effects of the burden arc
more noticeable in the case Of the small
farm. For the sum total of effects ana
net results compare the welfare and
condition OF the Mormon farmers with
that of similar communitles in other
places-say Rocky Ford. Fort Collins,
Greeley, Grand Junction and other
places where tithing tax and priesthood
graft are nil.
In the farming districts Of Utah you
sec the accumulated effects of con.
slant economic drain upon the land and
the people In Rocky Ford, Fort Col
Inns. and other like places. you see the
accumulated effects of constant appIl-
cation of profits and surplus capital
10 tine improvement of premises and
fcrtilizing OF soil The contrast is the
difference between wheelbarrows and
automobiles-the difference between
twilight and monday.
Not only do these truths apply 10
tithe.paying farmers and business men,
but TO the Mormon people as a who lie.
The great economic truth | wish 70
impress upon the Mormon people is
this: This tithing tax Ono Guiding
therein various church, ward and mis-
sion contributions continuing year al
ter year has consumed a large portion
Of the past profits Of the Mormon peo-
pie and 30 that extent has not only
despoiled them of the capital and
wealth, which. except for titbing, they
would now have. but has injured them
in many other ways.
Money. goods and property. invested
in tithing is permanently taken from
the Mormon people. What has become
OF the vast sum OF S23.90O00O that
has been paid in tithing during The
past forty wears Is Il mystery that wlll
never be solved. Suffice il TO say that
this sum. or say S20.000.000 Of il, had
il been allowed TO remain with the
Mormon people as working capital,
would now be fund OF over 100000
600 at n conservative estimate. The
fact that fhe Mormon people have pro.
duccd and have paid out in tithiDg over
S23.000.00O in forty years speaks
volumes for their energy. industry and
severe economy. But let MS talk only
Of conditions and results.
If this tithlng and its legitimate
f,,nI nI
800 600. 600 were now distributed
among the Mormon people, the Nor
mons instead of the Gentiles would now
own the railroads. mines, smcltcrs and
industries of Utah.
But, sad to relate, the opposite Of
this assumption Is true. The uthlng
tax eating steadily. year after year,
has dcvourrd profits and surplus of the
Mormon people TO an extent that has
impoverished them 10 the amount OF
6O,O0O,000 at present reckoning. The
effects are cumulative. Another twenty
years, figuring with present factors,
will reduce the Mormon people as a
class OF beegary and want,
Do not make the mistake of think
ing that the tithing fund, or any part
Of il. is the property Of the Mormon
people either as a class or as individ-
uals That fund. by force of the theory
under which IT is collected. belongs to
the priesthood No account need be
rendered and no account Will he rend-
cred. The priesthood is the priesthood
Some members Of the priesthood tell
us that the more tithing a man pays,
the more money he has left. Now,
some people may believe this, but some
of us Mormops arc not fools. AS for
myself, having mastered the famous
forty seventh problem of Euclid, | place
the above statement on par with some