The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-01-05
SENAToR-ELEcT FUNK.

Our esteemed Senator-Elect Hon
James w Funk is quite sure that
improper influences we're used TO de.
feat prohibition and the Democratic
party in the last campaign" At least
he is reported as saying as much, and
up to date has made no denial of the
charge.
1t would be interesting to know
just what he means by improper in
fluences." Mr. Funk stands in an un-
ique position in this regard In the
first place he is a bishops counselor.
He has been elected to the city coun-
Gil in Richmond city number of
times, and has been thrice elected
mayor of that city. We have yet to
learn, and his political associates, as
well as his political opponents, we
aver have yet to learn, wherein he
has not always used the influence of
his ecclesiastical position to the very
limit to foster his constantly increas.
rag political ambition.
He ran on ticket half the person
mel OF which were high churchmen.
Three bishops and three counsellors
to bishops were constantly pouring
into the ears of the people what the
church wanted. A counselor to a stake
president was busily engaged in writ
ing postscripts on circular letters to
Brother Williams" and another was
busily engaged in one OF the most la
bored spell binding" contests in the
history of the county.
These two counsellors met AIN apos-
tie at the station on the Sabbath day,
and escorted him to stake taber-
nacle where he delivered very fine
sermon; and after saying amen, held
hurried conference with these two
councillors, and a president of sew
enty, and then announced that the
speech he came to deliver at that
time he had decided was not fit to be
delivered on the Sabbath day, but
that he had arranged to deliver it at
the same place on the following even.
ing. This announced Democratic rally
was held as per this schedule.
superintendent OF mutual improve
ment, and professor of the great
church school of the valley, campaign
ed the county with their muck rakes"
in hand, and a president of seventy,
with a train of bishops and counsel.
Tors, made the greatest tour the De.
mocratic party has ever seen.
In all this activity on the part OF
churchmen J. w. Funk and the Demo
cratic party were the beneficiaries;
and from this point of view 1t is hard
to see where the Senator makes good
his charge of improper influence" un
less the above was improper, and the
Democratic party lost because this ar
ray OF democratic churchmen over.
did the thing. Surely Senator Funk,
In the light OF the above facts, is not
so marry as to charge 1t improper"
for president Of a stake, a bishop or
a bishops counsellor, having been
Republicans all their lives, to vote for
ticket on which there were no bish-
ops or bishops counselloqs, is he?
Or does he think that from the fact
that he, Ia bishops counsellor, headed
county ticket composed OF half bish-
ops and counsellors, against which
was a ticket of lay members in his
own church, Ia justified in charging
the use OF improper influence" from
the fact that all ehurchmen did not
vote the Democratic ticket? Really IL
1t is the old omnipreseut, thread bare
Democratic cry of church influence
Mat the senator deems improper" 1t
seems ss though an explanation frcin
this gentleman would be in order
Second, J. W, Funk during his |
years and years of s]-is,~'.l, in
.," .I1