The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-09-22
WOULD SEPARATE
CHURCH and STATE
POLITICAL ORGANIZATION AT
SALT LAKE SEEKS TO SPLIT
MORMON HOLD IN CITY

Salt Lake City, Utah-(A P.)-
Separation of church and state is the
battle cry of The American party a
political organization, formed at re-
cent mass meeting of several Salt
Lake citizens.
The aim of the new organization is
" to prevent religious interference in
politics and to prevent the union of
the church and state,' it being the
contention of speakers at the meet
ing that officials of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
(Mormons) exercise power in Utah
politics contrary to the state consti-
tuition.
Joseph E. Gallagher, prominent local
business man, was chosen as the
party candidate for mayor of Salt
Lake at the forthcoming municipal
election Farley Williams and
George N. Lawrence were named can
didates for the city commission.
The leaders in the present Ameri-
can party movement are men who,
during the recent anti-cigarette law
fight, organized the Committee of
1875" This body went before the 1928
Utah legislature and was successful
in obtaining modification of the dras-
tic anti-cigarette law as passed by
the legislature of 1921
Strict enforcement of certain pro-
visions of the cigarette statute, af-
ter nearly two years of non-enforce-
ment, resulted in the arrest of many
prominent Salt Lake residents for
smoking downtown in restaurants
while having their meals. 1t was af-
ter these arrests that the Z" Committee
nf 1CE - fn1~u1ad fn
measure.
The cases against those men ar
rested for violation of the cigarette
law were in the courts many months
but were finally dismissed. Salt Lake
City gained nationwide publicity
throughout the entire controversy
Many newspapers commented edi-
torially and cartOonists occupied
themselves depicting Utahns being
arrested for smoking.
The following declaration of prin-
ciples was adopted at the mass meet
ing:
We insist upon strict compliance
with the following provision of the
constitution of the State of Utah:
There shall be no union of
church and state, nor shall any
church dominate the state nor inter-
ISlS Win It's 1unct1OQS.
The wise principle announced in
this provision of our constitution is
born of centuries of experience. It's
observance will bring us pease and
a deserved prosperity-its violation
means continued strife and ultimate
disaster.
We charge that the violation of
this provision of our constitution is
a breach of faith with the United
States of America and denies to a
large portion of the citizens of this
state rights innate to every American.
In material way our state has been
hampered in it's normal growth and
our city denied that progress which
1t deserves and which otherwise
could come to it. Men and women
who ought to interest themselves In
civic affairs have Stunned their civic
duties because of the fact that eligi-
bility to political service has not been
based upon fitness, but upon ability
to control influences which should
be extraneous to and divorced from
politics.
While other western cities have
SHOWN unusual growth ours has
Jagged because those resident here
nave not been permitted to enjoy full
measure Oh c1t1ZenSh1p which belongs
OF right to every American.
We charge that our entire civic
structure, including the different
organizations and our pub
lie schools, is being dominated and
controlled by leaders of the Mormon
church.
Realizing that it is vital to the
growth and prosperity of our city
that the burden of taxation be re-
duced to the lowest possible medium,
consistent with efficient business ad-
we pledge our candi-
dates to bring about such reduction
With a full realization of the
fiduciary position of public servants,
we strongly advocate and pledge our
candidates to the installation of an
approved budget system, to the end
that the administration of the fin
ances of the city be put upon bust
ness basis.
ITO the end that we may devote
ourselves to>~the furtherance of the
foregoing principles, we hereby or
ganize ourselves into a political
party to be hereafter known as :" The
American Party"