Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-02-17
NO FORCE USED,

In the leading editorial Doc lho Herald
Of Fob. IT, two statements are made
that should not ~ uuuotigod one De-
this: 1T IS frankly ACKNOWLEDGED that
Church influence was used Co force
Democrats 20 vote tho Republican
ticket The other ls thls "Mr Hol-
man. 90 his speech in favor of rccom-
hitting tho Cannon Bill. charged that
Tho dominant church was eudeav1rIug
20 force prohibition upon the stato.'
The nrst is the editorial opinion OF The
Herald. the second IS "a charge made
BY Nr Holman. Both credit the
Church with trying 90 force some-
thing upon the people and they are
equally false ana misleading.
No church influence was ever used
60 force anyone t3 vote one way
or another, and the best proof of that
is that everyone votes just as he
plearcs without Def or hindrance. Iu the
last election. So is true. o. great many
Democrats voted the Republican ticket
in this County, because they resented
the vile threats made by the gains
that assumed t0 speak for the Am
ericau" party. in lts conventions and
Its organ; but 81 o. equally true that
many Democrats refused 60 vote any
other ticket than their own. 10 is true
that some leading Church men, exc
erclsing their rights as American citi-
zens. counseled the peopIc-and this
counsel was not by any means re-
strictcd 90 Church members-to vote
the Republican ticket because they felt
convinced that by up other means
could the un-American plots bee
frusrated but &c is equally true THAI
other leading Church men, also ex-
ercising their rights as American clt-
liens. counselcd the voters t1 remain
true 20 their party principles and cam
didates. so there was mo- force" No
Church influence was brought To- bear
on either side in the sense that the
Church organization was employed
Tor POLITICAL purposes. IL the question
Of politics was referred To- at AN in
religious meetings IL was only in the
same way as such questions are dis
NtaHNhNA AA AANAH'n NlA iifNN PSI |HNIM NIANn
pit 10 the country. Church members
viii not stand Tor coercion. neither iu
religion nor politics. They are not
expected 90. Tho statement OF the Her
aid b.. therefore. absolutely untrue.
What can our contemporary hope 20
et' 20 vote a certain ticket when
every voter knows that no force" was
attempted, either physical or moral?
Mr. Holman's charge Is equally mis-
leading The dominant church" is
not endeavoring 20 force prohibition
upon the State. The dominant Church
IS not even taking the lead in this agi-
tat.on Why this Interpretation?
The prohibition agitation has come t0
Utah from the outside. through the ef-
forts Of the ostimable men and women
who are associated in various temper
anoo societies. and especially the Anti
Saloon League. Tho reform wave hay
ing struck the State. the Church, In
Conference, passed a. resolution obIgat-
ing It's officers and members 10 do am
IN their power 60 induce the legislators
10 pass a law closing tho saloons and
TO do away with Sunday Dissertation
Ina line with that resolution temperance
meetings are being held. petitions arc
being sent 90 the Legislature. and such
influence as American citizens can
properly exercise boo favor of "a great
moral victory is being used. not only boy