The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-04-30
A KORE than 300 loyal and en-

tended last nlght the thlru
annual love feast of the American
party, held in the knights of
Columbus hall.
/ While the banquet was first on
the programme, and was enjoyed
by all, it constituted only minor
feature of the evening, when con-
trasted with the significant utter
ances of the numerous speakers
who plainly voiced their deepest
convictions. The chief speaker of
the evening was former Senator
Frank j. Cannon of Denver.
While the guests were gathering. and
during the banquet the Woodruff trio,
composed of Miss Ethel Nettleton, Mr..
H. l.. Woodruff and Mr.. o. Smith, dis
coursed excellent music.
A. j. Weber, president Of the Ameri-
can club, presided as toastmaster. and
introduced the various speakers.
Among those present were former
Senator Frank J, Cannon, Judge A. j.
Weber, Thomas Weir, Judge j. W. Nc
Kinney, Judge II. j. Dininny, j. B.
Moreton, Thomas HOLIDAY, NJ. A. Daugh-
S. Dalton, Arthur Moreton, Ben S.
Rives, II. Warren Smith, A. Il, Sanford,
Pat Connor, +. r, Christensen.
Weber Makes Keynote Speech.
After the banquet was finished
Toastmaster A. j. Weber made ring.
ing Introductory speech TO the pro-
gramme of the evening. He said in
part:
There is as much necessity for the
American party today as when in 1904 the
outraged Gentiles OF Salt Lake City or
ganiZed to- enforce the demand that the
Mormon church should keep its pledges
with the nation. The American party has
been In this fight through the years sue
ceeding and expects TO continue in the
combat until the whole of Utah shall be
emancipated from church and priestly
control.
During the period OF American party
control in Salt Lake City, brief it
yet is we have accomplished many things
For one. we have made the leaders of the
church cautious about some things. II is
not long ago since Joseph F. Smith. that
prophet of prophets. stood in his pulpit
and declared against polygamy. Before
that time every Mormon and every jack
Mormon in Salt Lake City was graciously
permitted To keep silence upon this point.
Bares Legislatures Plot.
The last legislature. perhaps the most
infamous In the history of Utah, composed
OF few honest men, many wholly In
competent, Il large number of church
controlled politicians and few active
and intelligent grafters. passed legisla-
ton intended and designed TO kill the
American party by enactng Il bill pro-
vlding for the commission form OF gov
ernment
model and then eliminated from that bin
every good feature that II possesses,
But if the Americans will stick together.
instead of placing control In the hands
OF the despot. We will have more power
than ever before. We can give the peo-
pie more economical and progressive
administration than they have had in
I'VE can call the Americans together
in Dou-partisan American convention,
nominate non partisan Americans as del
eGates, have them select non partisan
American candidates and go to the polls
and vote for non partisan Americans.
Points Out Hypocrisy.
"Eut they say it is against the spirit
OF the commission form of government
to hold party conventions. II three or
four of the federal bunch can hold meet
ings in secret and agree upon their cam
didates-if five or the federal bunch can
hold meetings with five so o-called Ameri-
cans and expect to agree upon mutually
satisfactory candidates, as has been done
I'm the last few days, surely the Americans
can openly hold ~ city convention that
will name candidates.
''And when the men that we shall Sc
lect are elected, we will once have an
American CITY,.
Judge Webers telling address was
punctuatcd with hearty applause at fire.
auent intervals and at It's conclusion the
demonstrations of appreciation were pro-
longed.
Mrs. Corinne Harris Hammer and Miss
Edna Dwycr sang might Of Love" with
nne artistic effect, and the toastmaster
then introduced Thomas Weir the
imam who. when Utah was emancipated
would be selected for the governors chair.
or some higher position"
Mr.. Weir began his brief address by
saving that the common enemies Of Amer
icanism In Utah had not really changed |
their attitude since lie first came to the |
state sixteen years ago. But he warned |
the American party that it could not
build reputation on the other fellows |
bad character but must look within to |
!ts own character He said that il was |
useless to say anything against the Re |
publican and Democratic parties If the /
American party was guilty of the prac-
tices which IT condemned In attacking |
the other parties.
Mr.. Weir declared that while the Amer
leans were accusing the Republican party |
of entering into ~ league with the liquor
very large number of Ameri-