The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-11-21
is the gentleman who is about the most
capable of delivering the goods.
AMERICAN PARTY AMPLE.


election in this State, came out in q
declaration against church interference
in politics and called for the orgapiza-
ton of new party to oppose such in
finence The Tribune replied that there
was no need of new party for that
purpose; that the American party is
sufficient, aud that the chief aim of the
American party is precisely the same
as what would necessarily be the aim
of the new party proposed by. the
Standard
To this the Standard reioins in an
editorial on Saturday evening, which is
reproduced on another page of The
| Tribune this morning We would be
sorry to sec the effort of the Standard
combatcd by the American party or by
any influence in the American party,
and so we do not wish TO enter into
any embittercd controversy over the
| Standard s rejoindcr We cannot help
remarking, however. that a very large
portion of the Standard s objections TO
the American party are simply the mis-
arc not anything that comes from or
are justly chargeable to the American
party.
The Standard S objection primarily is
as to methods That, however. is "a
matter Of opinion, and the methods
adopted have been approved by the best
Judgment of the American party, and,
as we have said heretofore, The Ameri.
can party asks to he Judged by what it
has said and done. not by the msrep-
from the opposition.
Let us examine a few of the Stand
ard S objections to the American party
and see what there is in them Pri-
mariy. the STANDARD s idea is that the
American party s opposition to church
influence in politics has simply made
moro church Influence Is there any
probability, however, that any opposi-
tion whatever 10 church influence in
politics would have different result
The Standard objects to "the bitter
contention and conflict among one.
fourth Of the States population but
since the church leaders seem deter.
mined TO use the church and the fcalty
of the membership of that church in
support OF their dominance in politics,
VIC do not see how this contention is to
be avoided if church influence in poll
ties is to be resisted at all
The Standard speaks Of the American
party having caused irreparabe IN.
jury TO the financial and commercial iu-
terests of Utah. This is one of the
misrepresentation of the opposition, ut
teTly baseless, without single fact
upon which to rest. Precisely the con
trary is true where any financial and
commercial interests have been affected
by the American party. 1t is In Salt
Lake City alone that the American
party has obtained the ascendance. and
here We have enjoyed a financial and
commercial prosperity, as we claim by
reason Of that ascendancc. absolutely
unparalleled elsewhere in the State or
here at any other time.
The Standard further specifies "a de-
flaming and slandcring of the people of
the state that cannot be overcome or
righted in generation. 50 To this the
American party must plead absolutely
not guilty. There has not been in any
American party declara tion or in The
Tribune any defamine or slandering of
the people of Utah, unless the lawless
and tithegrabbiug priesthood are TO be
designated as the people of Utah. But
this is precisely what we object to. We
hold that the priesthood is not "tbe
people, of Utah. and that the people
of Utah would be immensely better off
if they could be rid altogether of the
incubus of that priesthood. That. how
! ever, is not an American party propo-
sitiou, but is The Tribune S idea. and
it is an idea that we are prepared TO
defend at any and all times.
We are not aware of any such con
ditiou AS the Standard sets forth where
il SAYS that "every trne citizen of Utah
when abroad must hang his head in
shame to hear his people and his State
| by criminals and lecherous priest.
hocd.'' We have not heard of ANYBODY
that was ashamed any more abroad
than at home by reason of the condi-
tions that have prevailed in Utah
where the State is governed by "crimi.
nails and lecherous priesthood. So
! far as Utahps abroad are concerned
doubtless when abroad they stand up
for their State in the best way they
can, and would be glad if they could
stand up for it more heartily than they
are able to do by reason of the evil con
ditions that prevail. There is quite ss
much reason WHY the people of Utah
when abroad should hang tbeir heads
In shame now that the Standard bas
come out as against church influence
in politics as there has ever been be
| fore. -.
The Standard is quite correct, bow
ever. in its statement of the abomiua