Show CHURCH NON ENCE IN last sundays sunday issue of the herald appeared a dispatch from president woodruff to hon thomas E bassett of idaho it was in m response to a telegram from senator teller of colorado stating that mormon leaders of that state were wem opposing the re reelection election of senator dubois under real or affected authority of the church president woodruffs reply was as follows for the information of yourself and fellow legislators of our faith we desire it distinctly understood der stood that we as a church are not opposing senator dubois duboiss reelection and that church influence must moat not be used for or against the senator this answer of the venerable and beloved president is in the same tenor and in perfect harmony with all the public utterances that have emanated from him with reference to the alleged interference of the church in political matters there is no juggling with words and phrases no equivocation but with the honesty and integrity that have characterized his life he gives the people of that state belonging to his religious faith to understand that church influence must mast n not ot be used for or against the senator the broad ax does not doubt for one moment but that the language used by president woodruff came from the bottom of his heart we believe that if ambitious mormons cormons of idaho baho use the church as a lever by means of which they attempt to elevate one man politically and at the same time try to retard and suppress another they are doing that which they have no right to do and against the express disapproval of president woodruff he has ha used a like influence in this state and under similar circumstances cum stances but there are am 8 some ome hig high h in the church who to foster their own ambitious and selfish ends have proved recreant to the trust reposed and the counsel given them from the president and have sought to use the power of the church to defeat a supposed enemy we say ay amen to the instructions given byr by president woodruff woo druff to his people of our sister state on the north and to the attitude which be has taken take a in this state with regard to political it matters and our only regret is that some who profess to follow his hi example and teachings so BO closely cloady are am the farthest from them the broad ax sends the aged and beloved president our best and most pleasant greetings of the and hope that all those of his faith who are an disposed dia posed to use the power of yf the church for wrong w r ng purposes will wid see ee as he sees so that au all the people of this our infant state may soon dwell in peace and harmony hazer harer together er that this choice boril portion on of our glori glorious ous republic Be public may indeed be an asylum for rp re 9 bous and d political liberty |