The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-11-21
Some History Connected With
the Recent Campaign and
Church Republicans.
ECCLESIASTS CONFER
UPON BOOZE QUESTION
Conference Held at Church
Headquarters and PIanks in
Platform Decided Upon.

The liquor men, fhc brewers of Utah
through the federal bunch, entered into
deal or compact two years ago by
which the church Republican party of
Utah pledged itself, through this bunch
of federal officers, including several Of
the state officials and the congression-
al delegation from Utah, that no liquor
legislation should be enacted inimical to
the liquor interests Of Utah. In return
for this the brewers and liquor men
were to furnish the financial sinews Of
war The complied by putting up
$4,000.
Regardless of the denial of Apostle
Senator Reed Smoot this statement is
true and the action of the state lepis-
lature and the executive of Utah two
years. ago on the liquor question sub
stantiates the statement. Not only
that, but in the. first legislature after
the deal was made members Of the legis-
lature exposed the deal and openly de-
nounced the compact In speeches made
when the liquor bills were before the
| body for consideration In addition
thereto, during the late campaign, the
charge was made by public speakers,
documentary evidence was produced,
and the only denial made of the charge
was by Apostle Reed Smoot and "Me-
Too' Sutherland.
The compact between the liquor in
terests and the church Republican party
was renewed again In the late campaign
and again the financial sinews of war
were produced by the liquor men. Here
IS the story of how the deal was made
this year, 1t came out in letter writ
a
Salt Lake stake of Zion. TO an insurgent
Republican This letter was shown to
several persons aud one of the number
on Sunday told The Tribune the follow
ing Here is the story:
Authorized by Church.
"Apostle Reed Smoot was delegated
| by the president of the Mormon church,
by the quorum Of the twelve apostles
and by the stake presidents Of the vari-
GUS stakes of Zion, to write the liquor
plank in the Republican state platform
in the late campaign.
"This authority was conferred upon
| him after meeting which was beld
ten days before the Ogden convention,
called by the first presidency of the
church. at the request of the Utah con
gressioual delegation and the federal
bunch when the liquor question was
thoroughly discussed and at which meet
|
| liquor question was decided.
| Among the stake presidents who at
tended this meeting was Nephi i. Nor
ris Of Salt Lake stake of Zion, and one
of the most pronounced prohibition adj
vocates in Utah. IL was because of
this conference that several of the
stake presil lents who had been loudly
prohibition, too, suddenly changed their
tactics aud worked zealously for the
church Republican party, why they
gave the order TO the whisperers In
the church TO call upon the Mormons
who were of the Democratic faith and
commanded them to ignore their own
political belief and vote the church Re-
publican ticket because it was the will
of the Lord given through Joseph i.
| Smith. the prophet, that they do this.
as il was absolutely necessary to sus-
tain Brother Reed Smoot.
Smoot Given Command.
"After the church authorities had
decided as To how far they would go IN
sustaining Apostle Senator Smoot, tho
apostle was directed 10 formulate the
views of the conference SO that official
sanction of the church might be given,
The apostle. therefore, wrote the draft
Of the planks upon the liquor question
and they were read to the conference.
The original draft was changed consid-
erably, but finally the conference put
their seal of approval upon the planks
and adopted them. Later on when tho
convention met In Ogden Smoot pre-
ecclesiastical conference and they were
incorporated in the platform. They fol
low;
Liquor Planks in Platform.
Upon the important question Of liquor
loo ylsIa In RcunDlicHn Marty
IN favor OF that legislation which will
most effectively suppress the evils OF
more Importance than rhetoric. II does
not believe that a question so vital 60
tho best interests Of our people should
be made the football OF party politics,
and a dragnet TO capture votes. We be-
nevc that Utah should pront by the en-
pcricncc Of others. and not adopt legls-
jation which. however we'll intended will.
under existing conditions. prove dis
appointment TO the real advocates OF
temperance. We, therefore. declare upon
this question IS follows.
/ In favor OF Il law prohibiting the
sale or other disposal Of intoxicating
liquors In any and all places outside of
the limits of the incorpora ted cities, pro-
vidIng that all that part Of county
outside of the cities of the first. second
and third classes shall constitute q vol
Ing unit for the determining OF the liquor
question.
9 Providing also for local option with
I'm the limits of such incorporated cities
and the county units. as set forth above.
with appropriate provisions for the sub
mission to the qualified electors thereof.
al n spceinI election. of the question az
To whether the sale OF any such liquors
Within such cities or county units shall
he permitted or prohibited. End VIC pledge
the Republican legislature To put the
provision into operation. by apps6prihte
laws. within ninety days after the adop-
ton thereof
8. In any such city or county INIT
where a majority of the qualified elcc-
tors having voted upon such question.
shall not declare for prohibition. VIC Ia
yor the limiting and controlling the iElo