The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-11-08
Joseph F. Smiths Sovereignty
i'm Election Matters Ad-
mitted by Niblcy.
BISHOP DEFENDS ACTION
OF UTAHNS IN CONGRESS-
Letter. Proves Indubitably That
Church Head Rules in
All Things.

.Iosenb +. Smith is the spiritual, tenn
porol and political head of the Mormon
church.
This statement has been made before,
but il has always been Indignantly de-
MED bv Mormon leaders. They have
conceded that he was the spiritual head
ci the church and taeitly admitted that
he was its temporal head. as we'll. but
they have ;nd gnantly refutcd the I'M
putation that, the venerable leader of
the Mormon church ever directed the
political policies OF the church Repub-
lican party
But now this statement is made on
rhe authority OF C.. w. Niblcy, presiding
bishop of the Mormon church and 1T
cannot be denied, Also Bishop N'bley
declares, in effect. that il is right and
proper that Joseph f. Smith should be
the political prophet, seer and reVelator
Of the state.
Bishop Nibley's Defense,
Bishop NibIcv bases his grounds for
bis defense Of President Smith s polit,
iaal control of the state on the result OF
the prohibition controversy which arose
during the last legislative session. The
action Of the federal bunch in forming
an alliance with the liquor interests
was denounced by \ large number OF
Republicans.
As Republicans, c. w. Nibley, Hyrum
Smith and Ncphi l.. Morris wrote to the
congressional delegation complaining OF
tho notion of the party leaders IN Utah.
Now this congressional delegation
consists OF two Mormons and one sup
posed entile. George Sutherlnnd; In
stead of replying to the Republicans
who sent the message Smoot, sutherland
and Howell replied BY writing 10 Joseph
L. Smith. thus recognizing Joseph r,
Smith s power as political leader of the
Republican party in Utah
And Sutherland. as we'll as the Nor
mons in the delegation, recognized that
Joseph +. Smith was the party leader,
. for he wrote no dissenting reply. More
remarkable than this is the fact that
,;ishop Nibley declares it was right and
proper that the reply should have been
sent 10 President Smith rather than to
the senders or the mcssa =.
Allegiance Made Plain.
Bishop Nibleyj declaration of allie
glance TO the religious and political
throne of the Bee Hive house is con
famed in the following letter, which was
published in the Dcscrct News of Mon
day afternoon.
salt Lake City. Utah, Nov. !. 1910,
Dcscrct Ncws-There arc Il few people
aust at this time who clainoTing for
the publication OF q private letter which
Was sent by Senator Smoot TO Presi-
gent Joseph +. smith in January, 1909
] believe thai rewards have been offered
?or the publication OF this private letter
Senator Sinpot to President Smith as
answer 20 the telegram which has been
published extensively. and which was
signed by myself. Hyrum NJ. Smith and
Ncphi L. Morris.
1 would not intrude any Of these mat
ters on the News. which pertain to politi-
son why Senator Smoot should ask Presi-
dent Smith to read certain letter TO
the scnders OF the famous telegram. Prior
10 January 2i 1909. which is the date
OF the letter in question, Sena tor Smoot
had received numerous communica lions
from leading men and members OF The
church. urging that something should be
done relative to the state prohibition
question:: Tint the church. through its
resolution passed at conference. was de-
mandnS state wide prohibition, and that
certain members OF the church had gone
so far as 10 claim that legislators who
were members OF the Mormon church.
were bound by the. action OF the con-
ference whether present and voting for
the resolution or not.
Defends Reed Smoot.
Senator SInoot held TO the view that
i. was dangerous proposition fer the
church, AS such. TO insist on the passage
and holding 10 these views. would he
not very rightly and properly write To
the president OF tine church on such a
matter. which he did In letter cover
ing several pages?
Now, as the signcrs Of the famous
Telegram; were church officials of more
or less prominence, what moro natural
or proner way would nc answer the t.o-
gram. we sent than by asking the presi-
dent OF the church TO read his letter TO
us. wIiicn was written few days he
fore ana which from his point OF Wow
covered the whole statewide prohibition
Question especially when IL is rcmem-
.I...--
stor Slnoot we stated that :itlIe church
demands it
I submit, that in view of the facts IN
tho case. there is 10 fair minded man
who will not be inclined 10 say that SEN
;t;or Sinoot made TO the senderS OF the
telegram the most full proper and sens
bic answer that could have been given
under the circumstances. Respectfully
G. ". NIBLEY.