The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-04-24
Coercion Proved by Apostle
Cowley's Confession That
President Overruled
All Objections.
HOW POLYGAMY WAS
RESUMED IN UTAH
Interference With Judges
and Decisions Even More
Harmful Than Control
of Politics.

Collaborating with Harvey ]. O'Higgrns,
former United States senator Frank ].
Cannon in his preceding article, Under
Everybodys Magazine. described the po-
lltical betrayal and death of his father.
In. the article for May the writer's come
president OF the Mormon church. They
tell how the Mormon leaders interfere
In politics and even Invade the sanctity
judges hands or influencing their decis-
ions.
The only time that President Smith
Cannan 5elusgd Wrte 20 see nm en former me
president had been forewarned that the
church was to be asked TO keep its hands
off the senatorial campaign.
Former Senator Cannon narrates dra-
matlcally the admissions made by
Apostle N. F. Cowley, that few OF the
high churchmen considered Smoot lit to
ident Smith overruled them. Cowley
abruptly terminated the conference about
Smoot saying:
Progressing to the smoot inquiry for
mer Senator Cannon records the fact
prophets shocked even Utahns when they
testified that they had resumed polyg-
amous cohabitation on a scale their own
Gentle neighbors had not suspected.
that they are respecting the laws OF the
land. even while floutlng them. are eff
fectually exposed. The present Install
Inent is in part as follows:
Joseph f. Smith showed more gem
erosity of emotion, now that his path
OF succession Was clear Of the superior
In authority whom he had so long regard
ed enviousy; and he spoke of my father.
both privately and in public, in a way
that won me 10 him.
The shock OF grief had perhaps ''mel-
f.1I sI1n
men, since / was no longer necessarily
engaged In opposing them. When Presi-
dent Snow died October leoD. I shared
Joseph f, Smith set about asserting his
family's title 10 rnlership of the King
dom OF God on Eearth;" for. in effect.
he notified the world that his branch
or the Smith family had been designated
by divine revelation to rule in the af-
fairs of all men, by an appointment that
had never been revoked.
Henry Smith, his first councillor; and he
has inducted his son Hyrum into the
apostoate by revelation This latter
act reused the jealousy of the mother Of
his son Joseph f. Smith. Jr., and the
amused gossip OF the Mormons predicted
another revelation that should give
Joseph, Jr.. similar promotion. The rev.
elation came.
Nepotism in Mormonism.
SO many others have also come that
the Smith family is today represented in
the hierarchy Dy Joseph F. Smith. presi-
dent, prophet. seer and revelator to all
the world John Smith Ga brother). pre-
siding Patriarch over the whole human
race; John Henry Smith Ia cousin), apos-
tie and first councillor to the president:
Hyrum Smith and Joseph i. Smith. Jr..
John Henry, apostle; David S, Smith
(son of Joseph. Jr). councillor to the
presiding bishop of the church and In
line OF succession TO the bishopric; and
"a hcb m
relief societies. AS Joseph f. Smith has
still thirty other sons-and at least four
wives who are not represented in Tho
may yet be quorum
of Smiths to succeed endlessly TO the
presidency and make the Smith family
a perpetual dynasty in Utah.
tions OF Mormonism that many of the SIN
cere people-who smllingly predicted the
divine interposition by which this family
devoutly. The Lord" they win tell you,
will look after the church. II these men
are good enough for God. they are good
the Kingdom" And they continue pay
ing their devotion (and their tthes) 10
a family autocracy whose imposition
would have provoked a rebellion In any
other community in the civilized world!
1t is "the will OF the Lord"'
Smith Is Forewarned.
Now. our party was not making war on
the church nor on any of its proper mis-
sions in the world. Our candidates were
capable and popular men, against whom
no just ecclesiastical antagonlsm could be
raised. We were asking no faVors from
he church. And we were determined 10
nave no opposition from the church with
)ut z protest and an understanding
For this reason-after consulting con-
'idcntially with the leaders of our party
Il undertook to make q personal visit
% President Smiths office and demand
hat the church authorities should keep
heir hands out of politics. But even
While | discussed the matter with our
party leaders, | was afraid that some of
o church headquarters, And my fears
we're we'll grounded. When went TO
he office of the presidency. The authors
les-for the first. last, and only time
-efused to see me; and the secretary be-
yavcd knowledge of my mission by
cling me that | should hear from some
me OF the hierarchy later.
Two or three days afterward. Apostle
w. f. Cowey came TO me with word
hat my call had been considered and
hat he had been deputed to talk with
no We appointed time for confer
nee in my rooms at Democratic head
IIa rters. where we spent the larger
,art OF a day in consultation. And since
be argument between us covered the
whole ground OF Apostle Srnoot's candi-
ncy | wish to give an account OF that
ntcrview. as q brief exposition OF some
4 the present-day aspects OF the
hurch's interference in politics.
Apostle Cowlcy and | had been boy
ood friends. He had been one of the
lder students AZ; the school that l had
ttended as q child and I knew the In
egritS and drectness OF his character.
Continued on Page Three