Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-27
THE CHRONICLE is WRONG.


The San Francisco Chronicle o
recent date contains an absurd story
possibly originated in the anti-"Mor
mon" center of mlsinformation In thi
City. to the effect that the Church III
involved In the agreement between
Rickard and the Snltair people for th'
leasing OF the pavilion" for the much
debated prize fight, III further con-
firmation of this little piece of alleged
news, said to have been obtained b!
the underground route. 1t Is asserted
that the Governor belongs to the RE
publican OF Mormon party" But the
main ground upon which the writer In
the Chronicle bases his opinion Is thai
the Church Is involved in Saltair- He
says;
at is an open secret that the Nor
mon Church Is interested in the Saltair
resort. and 1t is hinted that the Church
is therefore involved In the agreement
that has been signed for the use OF
the pavilion as a fight arena. That
doubtless means Rickard has secured
the backing of the most influential ele-
ment In Utah"
This Is misinformation. pure and
simple We hasten to register pro-
test against the effort to represent the
Church as in any possible way. direct
ly or indirectly. involved in the pro-
jected prize fight. II is not true that
the Church is Interested In Saltair The
resort was sold long ago and Is under
private management So the conclu-
sions drawn from the supposed Church
interest in Soltalr have absolutely no
support. They are, II possible. less
substantial than the stun that dreams
are made of.
On Dec. q. last, the News" took oc-
casion to say:
THE Deseret News begs to register a
protest against the proposed violation
of law We want all the world to
know that the Lattcr-day Saints do
not approve OF such affairs. and can
have nothing to do with them. Wo
want all the world to know that
saloons, gambling hclls, dens of infamy,
horse racing, and prize fights are some
OF the civilizing agencies that are fore
ed upon our community by those who
claim TO be Americans par excellence
brand sobrlcty, temperance and virtue
as un-American. In the interest of
decency we protest against the fur
ther degradation of Salt Lake City.
I've are told about the vast sums of
money that particular form of law
breaking Is going TO bring here. But
what about the crooks, the thieves. the
gamblers. and the others that congre-
gate on such occasions? Are they fit
nj fn lp N nonNhfnTS
OF Salt Lake? Can We not get enough
legitimate business under American
rule, for the growth of the City. with
out having to adopt business that
has been driven out of every decent
state in the Union2
In behalf of the Lattcr-day Saints
We register this protest against the
proposed law-breaklng. 1t may not be
needed. but, II the fight takes place
here, the responsibility for 1t must rest
entirely upon those to whom II be-
longs, and not upon the Mormon part
OF the community"
We know of no reason why the
opinions here voiced should be modi-
fed in the least.
AS to the reference OF the article
OF the Chronicle to the Republican
or Mormon party" we beg to say that
there is no such party. That Is an
other of the vain imaginings that must
be relegated to the class of shattered
legends. along with the story of Will
liam Tell and the apple, the Cardiff
giant Paul Boyntons sea serpent, and
DR.. Cook and the Pole.
There IS a Republican party in Utah
but no Mormon" political party. or
Mormon" Republican party Church
officials and Church members are ad-
herents of various political parties
Some arc Republicans, some are Demo-
Gratis. and some are Socialists, even.
The Church as such has no political
policy. Its members arc divided on
politics as are the members of other
churches. They vote according to their
conviction without let or hindrance from
Church officials There Is, in Salt Lake
City. an anti-"Mormon" party. as un
American as the so-called American
party that was formed in 1854 on the
principles OF dislike of the Catholics
and opposition to foreigners-a verlt-
able Know nothing" society-but
there is no Mormon" party That
there Is one, is merely one of the false
hoods by which the Mormon"
conspirators hold their followers to-
gcther. That Is trumpet blast calling
them to action for purposes of spoil
The Chronicle, we suppose. desires
the fight for It's own city. We can as
sure our contemporary that it has no
rival In the Church Lattcr-day Saints
do not want the brutal exhibition here
or anywhere else
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