The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-05-29

Twelve prominent nom -MormonS ne!d
as late as 1905, That conference was
called TO consider the situation and
10 devise means of acquainting the
nation with the desperate state OF
affairs in Utah 1t was independent
of the political movement that had
already begun: il aimed rather 10
organize social rebellion, so that
we might not be dependent. for all
our opposition. upon the annual or
semi annual campaign OF politics.
The meeting first agreed upon the
following statement of facts.
Constitution Held Inferior.
''Utahs statehood, as now admin
istered. is but protection of the
Mormon hierarchy in its establish
ment of theocratic kingdom. under
the flag OF the republic. This hie-
rarchy holds itself superior to the
constitution and 10 the law. II is
spreading polycamv throughout the
ranks OF its followers. Through It's
agents ii dominates the politics Of the
state. and its power is spreading 10
other commonwealths. II exerts such
sway over the officers OF the law that
the hierarchy and its favorites can
not be reached by the hand OF jus
tice. II is master OF the state leg
islature and OF the governor.
by means of its immense collec-
ton of tithes and its large invest
ments in commercial and financial
enterprises. il dominates every line
of business in Utah except mines
and railroads: and these latter it in
huences by means OF its control over
Mormon labor and by Its control OF
legislation and franchises. 1t holds
nearly every Gentle merchant and
professional man at its vengeance.
and by its influence over the patron
age which he must have in order to
be successful II corrupts every Cen
tile who Is affected by either fear
S,- IL, 4. Z. H..
OF its mower to play the autocrat In
Utah and TO deceive the country as
10 its purposes and its operations.
Gentle a Marked Man.
Every Gentle who refuses to testi-
~ a its request and in its behalf
becomes a marked and endangered
man. IT rewards and IL Furnishes ac-
cordinE 10 its will: and those Cen
tiles who have gone TO Washington
of this fact Unless the Gentiles of
Utah shall soon be protected by the
power OF the United States they will
suffer either ruin or exile AT the
hands OF the hierarchy"
When this declaration had been ac-
cepted by all present as truly ex-
pressing their Views Of the situation.
IT was decided that they should con-
fer with other leading GentiIes, hold
a mass meeting adopt set OF reso-
which they had agreed, and then dis
patch the resolutions TO the senate
committee. as q protest against the
testimony of some Of the GentiIes in
the Smoot case. and a an appeal to
the nation for help.
Afraid to Support Protest.
But although all approved of the
declaration and all approved OF the
method by which 1t was TO be sent
H.,
to stand out publicly in support of
such a protest. 10 offer the resolu-
tions, or TO speak for them. The
merchant knew that his trade would
vanish in night. leaving him unable
To meet his obligations. and certain
Of financial destruction. The lawyer
knew not only that the hierarchy
would deprive him Of all his Mormon
clients. but that IT would make him
so unpopular with courts and iuries
that no Gentle litigant would dare
employ him. The mining man knew
that the hierarchy could direct legis-
lation against him, might possibly in
fuence courts. and could assuredly
And so with all the others at the
conference.
They were not towards. They had
shown themselves, in the past. OF
loyalty. and ability. All recognized
that IL the power of the hiera rchy
were not soon met and broken It
would grow too great to be resisted
that another generation would find
Itself hopelessly enslaved.
Liberty Endangered
Every father felt that the liner
ties OF his children were at stake:
that they would be bond or free bv
the issue of the conflict then in course
at Washington. And yet not one
dared TO throw down the gauntlet TO
tyranny-to devote himself to certain
slavery TO beggary and slavery COM
that the power OF the nation would
cretly for the fulfillment OF that hope.
saw the promise OF their salvation.
tie Smoot- When the report Of the
Washington. the president had sum
Thomas kearns OF Utah and Senator
Mark Hanna. who was chairman OF
the national Republican committee,
and 10 these two men he had declared
his opposition to the candidacy OF a
Mormon apostle as Republican as
plrant for senatorship.
Smoot's Candidacy Opposed.
AT his request Senator Hanna, as
chairman OF the party. signed A let
ter OF remonstrance TO the party
chiefs in Utah, and President Roose-