The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-11-13
Banded Together for Self Pro-
lection Against Law-Abid-
ing Citizens Of Utah.
PRESIDENT SMITH MADE
GOAT" BY REED SM00T
Liquor Deal UnlOaded on Him
and He Dare Not Disclose
Letter.
BY MAC.

bX n1fAO.
Having linked itself with the liquor
interests for the purpose of defeating
the American party in Utah. the Nor
mon church has taken upon itself task
the like of which was never assumed
by church of any character IN the
United States.
Having aroused the Iawabidlng citl-
zcns Of Utah by its condoning the polyg-
amous crimes of favored ones of the
priesthood, the church, its law defying
prophet, its political apostle senator and
It's presiding bishop, now announce
through the chief 'sMouth'' Of these
malefactors, that the liquor business is
to be taken under the protecting shelter
of church and state control. They de-
clare the issuing Of permits to sell IN
toxicants is to be insrusted TO an
agency appointed by the governor or the
legislature.
1t is doubtful if there is disinter
ested citizen of Utah who will not APP
plaud such thing. II will place the
responsibility of the liquor business just
where it belongs so long as tho saloon
is to band itself into an organized polit-
ical force.
Nothing would be more natural nor
form an alliance with Utah IS. greatest
political power. Nothing so seasonablc,
either, for the cause of the one is the
safety of the other. AS long as they
can agree on the main question-the
keeping of the better elements of so
ciety out of political control-they can
continue their iniquities without moles-
tation.
| Not all Mormons approve Of the al
/ lance of their church with the liquor
| interests but there are but few who
have the courage to rebel so long as
! such msu as Bishop NioIcy, Reed Sinoot
aud President Smith forbid them To
nal Ike protest. The best they can DO is
| to hang their heads in shame.
| At first the advantage was with the
politicians Of the church Republican
party. They persuaded President Smith
to preach against the saloon. The con
ference indorsed his sentiments Sew
eral of the apostles followed in due
course and what seemed to be gem
nine prohibition sentiment was aroused.
But it was all bit of the vilcst of
politics. The liquor men were fright.
ened They wanted TO know how they
could prevent anti-liquor legislation.
Smoot was TO be reelected by the leg
islature to be chosen that year He
knew he was unpopular and might, by
some cause, fail to secure enough mem
bers TO succeed himself. No one knew
Just how the presidential election might
affect the result in the state aud in Salt
Lake county.
Smoot was thinking of himself. He
told President Smith it would never do
to trust his liberties to the Americans
The saloon was frightened and so was
the church An alliance WAS the most
! feasible thing in sight. The liquor men
were told the agitation would cease il
they would finance the church Repub.
| hcan campaign. The politicians said
they would pull Governor Cutler out of
the race for denomination and subst-
tute William Spry. who was then the
United d: states marshal and satisfied
Cutler was not satisfactory to the
liquor men. They wanted a governor
who would veto any anti'Equor lcgisla-
tiop.
The agreement was entered into and
all parties absolutely bound The liuuor
men delivered the campaign fund in the
sum Of upwards of 1000 and this
money was supported with the votes of
fully SS per cent of the liquor controlled
vote of the state.
There was an overwhelming victory
for the allied forces-for the church and
the saloon.
Some Of the saints who were elected
to the legislature had not been taken
into the secrets of the consprators.
They did not know they and the Cover
nor had been sold to The liquor inter.
ests until they came to Salt Lake to
act as sclons Of the state. Then they
were told of the deal.
Not all would believe it, Some of
these knew how crooked Tue federal
bunch and the apostle-senator are. A
bill was introduced to strike down the
saloon, and the federal buucbcrs wero
in Il quandary. They found Il healthy
prohibition sentiment, They saw tho
possibility OF the defeat OF their plans.
They knew the liquor men had them
bound by an agreement the exposure OF
which would rum them. They set to
work to obtain the support Of the prcsi
dent of the church and il is claimed
were given a letter, signed by the presi
dent. to be shown to church members OF
the legislature, in which the member
was advised to defeat the antisaIoon
measures. The custodian of the letter
was cautioned TO, in no case. permit tho
letter to pass from his hands.
Smoot had done his work so well that
it was kept from Bishop Nibley and
members of the quorum of the twelve,
J(,.r NJ