OCR Text |
Show IAUEUPAITT Mass Convention Held Last Hp. . I Candidates .for the Board of Education Are E. B. Critchlow Delivers Address, Throwing Light on the "Way Schools Are Run Now. v I J J J I I v i ! AMERICAN PARTY NOMI- NEES FOR BOARD OF EDUCATION. :- 4 First ward J. J. Corum. v Second wnrd B. F. Redman. v Third ward J. D. .Eagman. v I rourth ward E. 0. Howard, W. !- Mont Ferrry. -I-r Fifth ward "W. J. Halloran. J J J J J J J J J J "With A. J. Weber acting1 as chairman, chair-man, the American party oC Utah met In a mass convention In the Grand theater last night and In ward conventions conven-tions held on the floor, nominated candidates can-didates for membership on the Board of Education. The hall was welf filled and much enthusiasm was manifested when the selections were announced. City Chairman George L. Nye called the convention to order and, after a musical selection rendered by the Utah quartette, Introduced A. J. Weber as chairman for tho pvpnlntr. IUr. Weber's Address. Mr. Weber prefaced his remarks by stating that while he had always been a Democrat, and would always uphold the political faith of that party, he In- mmj tended to vote for the American party ticket In the school elections. "I do not J say that I shall do so In the future," mm he said. "Let the future take care of I itself, but I will say that from this time Wmm on I shall cast my vote In opposition IN to church Influence and against eccie- 11 ulastlcal control and Interference in the fjU functions of worldly government." Mr. ll Weber spoke of the alleged fusion of 1 iho two parties at the behest of Matt. Hi Thomas and F. G- Loofbourow He Bfn denied the right of either to dictate 10 Ml member of the party in what conven- H lions th&y should appear and for whom Km thisy shall vote. He cast discredit on Q :he fusion and adorned his argument with a rale which went to show the ef- feet which a mixture of Mormon and Gentile, Republican and Democrat on '.lie school board would have on the schools themselves. He cited the varl- cum articles of the "Declaration of I Faith" enunciated nine years ago, and WM shewed wherein every pledge made In J Oils aclemn declaration had been bro-HJ bro-HJ en every day since the time of its Jj adoption. "It Is Important," he said. J 1 to have a school board, the members J of which will not be blind tools of any J rhurch or the servile slaves of any pol-J pol-J Itical party. HJ "No manunder a school board cornel corn-el posed of Americans," said Mr. Weber, J ' will be given a position under the J board because of his success In the mls-J mls-J sion field. An opportunity will be glv- en the people next month to vote for J persons who represent American pro-IHJ pro-IHJ gross and American ideas who will not lH take a step backward or be content mM v.ith standing still. WMM Mrs. Plummer Rang "DeEeret" with WMM great effect, and then E. B. Crltchlow WMM VQs introduced and in an address re- WMM nlete with sensational statements, mWM which he backed up with written proof, MMMM held the close attention of his audience. DMJ Mr. Critchlow's Address. HHJ "We were met at every turn," said Mr. WMM Crltchlow. "with the argument that we mmm nre simply making trouble, and that with Ml another organization already formed, WMM with tho alleged purpose of lifting the school system from tho mire of partisan mmm politics, we are Injecting the bitter ques- H Hon of religion bccau.su we must cither WSmm "do or ruin. I have seen a pamphlet WMM written by Hyrum Booth, Jn which he j-ceks to refute tho charge that the dom- mmU Inant church of Utah Is trying to get con- mmm trol of the public school system. lie made HB a roster of the Mormon and non-Mormon MmM teachers with the salaries and other data mmM appertaining, and altogether made what MB appeared on Us face a plausible rofuta- WOW tlon of the charge. This argument might HI appeal to persons who do not look below J the surface' of things, but It docs not OH touch on the great principle Involved. The leaders of the dominant church claim the mmm right to parcel out the public schools be- J tween themselves, and the people who do mmm not hold to their faith, and that because J they a to In the majority It 1h for them J to decide who shall teach the children J and what they shall be taught." Hj Caused Many Wars. Mr. Crltchlow said that ever since edu- mM cation of children camo Into being the J idea of forcing a certain form of religion HI on independent minds hed been a pro-line pro-line source of trouble, and had been tho BH oiuso of wars und emigrations for tho HJ jast 500 years. J By means devious and underground, said mmm Mr. Crltchlow, the organization which at mmm this tlmo controls the State In all its branches is seeking to securo control of HB the public school.-?. In some places It Is I working opunly. Hero In Salt Lake, with HBJ the greatest cucnlng. it la ualng the idea HB nf a non-partisan board, a consumma- H tlon deElred by Its opponents, to secure Wliat Church. Does. Onco there was a law on the statute HBJ books of the State forbidding the use of j public school buildings for any kind of HB religious Instruction whatever. It was BHJ cas.v for those In tho majority who desired the opposite to secure the repeal of this HBJ law. Now, because of long toleration, It l poeslblo for ono church and no other J to use the public school buildings main- HH turned by tho taxpayers of the State, for I purposes of religious Instruction In tho 1 doctrines of that one church. In the past HBJ few ycurs we find that this church had HB organized what aro known as religious Hi '.laaaea. Any church has tho right to do I ' these were organized by the HHJ Mormon church to take advantage of the I public school system in the Interest of HI sectional aggrandizement. Many persona I are complaining now that the school I buildings are used each dav cither before H or-after school hours by these religious mmm classes. Only one religion is taught ln( HJH these classes. Tho other churches do not Inn hold thcao mcotlngs, neither arc the public pub-lic schools used for promulgating- their doctrlnea. Began to Proselyte. Continued toleration of this abuse ha? resulted In tt.s mcady growth. Two yoars ago a presidency was appointed to take charge of tho school religion classes. Appointed Ap-pointed for a purpose, this presidency strengthened its position, and. from merely mere-ly holding services In the public schools, began to proselyte. Tcachora under domination dom-ination of tho church wore Instructed to Inform the parents of their pupils that thoy would bo pleased to have- tho children chil-dren attend the religious classes hold after school hours. These teachors sent letters let-ters to the parents. The first of last year "William T. Wooton and Louise Raymond, employed by the public to tench In the schools at Heber City, Utah, sent out the following letter. advertlHlng the fact that a religion class was held, and asking that the children of tho persons addressed be permitted to attend these classco. The letter speaks for Itself: What Letter Contained. "Heber City, Jan. 11. 1901. Mr. and Mrs. : Dear Brother and Sister' We hold a I short session of the religion class every Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock In the Central school building. Do you dcslro. your son to remain and take part In this Important work of our Lord? If you do, kindly sign thl3 nolo and return re-turn It as soon ns convenient, "WILLIAM T. WOOTON. "LOUISE IIAYMOND. "Teachers. ' From Public to Religious School. Hero we have tho spectaclo of a public school changed bv tho clock striking 3:30 o'clock Into a religious school, and of a teacher paid from the public purse using his position, at tho direction of his superiors, su-periors, to advanco his own peculiar faith. This Is the entering wedge of the effort to securo control of the schools. From this pamphlet of fifteen pages which I hold In my hand, and which was issued by the genernl board of religion classes having charge of this work In 1003, I find In the Introduction to the work these llnec; "It Is the Intention, when religious class work shall have passed the experimental experi-mental stnjre and tho field lrs been more clearly doflncd, to publish plans for three yf.nrs In advance." As one of tho lessons les-sons for tho primary classes T find the following: "Third step, 'Why Children Should Not Be Vain; fourth step. 'Sketch of Elder B. H. Roberts's Life, Including His WrltlngB.' " Think of the children taught moral principles of conduct con-duct durlnp the day and, an Foon as tho clock .strikes tho hour, being uahercd Into a study of the life and manners of B. IT. Roberts! Methods Prevail in Salt Lake. These methods are prevalent In this city today. Tho religion elapses are held In the schools and secret proselyting Is conducted. con-ducted. I know thin from my own personal per-sonal experience, for my children have iakd mo to to nllowvl to attend these religion closson. To sVow that tho religion re-ligion classes aro :n-ant to be an attachment at-tachment of tire public cchool system. It Is only necosH.ry to read from the In-ptructlono In-ptructlono contained In the "Religious Class Outlines" for 1WI. This work Is not to bo done In tho summer months, during vacation, but only when the schools aro In session. Tho work Is to bocin and end with the school year. Tho Instructions read: Instructions to Superintendents. "Stake and ward superintendents should see to It that. If possible, the organizations organi-zations are complete some time beforo school opens in the fall, and that copies of this pamphlet are In the hands of all Instructors at nn early dnte. In order that there mav be no delay In beginning class work. Wherever It can be done, the services ser-vices of the DISTRICT SCHOOL TEACH ERS should be obtained. Steos should In taken to make tho teaching force In this work permanent." Circular From Stake Presidency. Mr. Crltchlow read a circular sent out by the stake presidency of Box Elder El-der county, to teachers In the schools of that district. He called attention to the fact that the stake president signing sign-ing this circular is Fred J. Holton. recently re-cently elected District Attorney on the Republican ticket for that district. Mr. Crltchlow stated that Holton held office of-fice as a Democrat In Box Elder county coun-ty until he was ordered to turn Republican. Repub-lican. He obeyed his instructions and ran ahead of the State and county tickets. The circular, by a mistake, was sent to a non-Mormon teacher, and reads as follows; Hero Is the Circular. Office of the Stake Board of Religion Class Work. Brlgham City. Utah. September Sep-tember 17, 1001. Mr. : Utah. Dear Brother: As tho Stake Board of Religious Class Work we earnestly request re-quest that you take hold of tho work In your school that you have been engaged to teach, as you know, dear brother, tho call to work comes from the presidency of the church, and the call comes to every ev-ery day-school teacher of our common faith, for tho reason that by education they are the most eminently fitted to take hold of this work. Tho work, dear brother. Is not ours personally, it is the work of tho Great Master, who calls his servants for tho last time to labor In his vineyard; and your special calling Is to sow "faith of tho gospel seed in the hearts of your pupils, and In after years they will rlso up and call you blessed for your efforts. Enclosed find a copy of tho outlines for this year. The General Gen-eral board advlso us that It Is not necessary neces-sary for the teachers to receive a certificate certi-ficate from the General board, as formerly. for-merly. Praying the Lord to bless you In your efforts, wo remain, your brethren. FRED J. HOLTON, NELS MADSEN, GEO. W. WATKINS. Slako Presidency of Religious Class Work. Eternal Vigilance Necessary. MrTcVitchlow, In closing, pointed out that if the duty was laid on teachers of the Mormon faith in the public schools to serve the church by inculcating incul-cating Its doctrines among the young, a still heavier duty must he laid on the members of the dominant church who serve as trustees of the schools, to see that the work progressed pro-gressed and that teachers were secured who would carry out the designs of the church. The more Mormon teachers In the public schools, the more Instructors Instruc-tors of religion classes paid by the public. pub-lic. To paraphrase an old quotation. ''Eternal vigilance is the price of our public school system. If vigilance Is not exercised, the public schools will sooner or later become an adjunct of religious class work." Mr. Critchlow's . address and the home truths which he presented, made a deep Impression on his audience. Ward Conventions Held. On motjon of P. J. Dalyr the different municipal wards resolved Into conventions conven-tions to select .candidates and a campaign cam-paign committee from each ward. The campaign committees were given the privilege of filling vacancies caused by death or resignation. The following resolution was introduced intro-duced and unanimously adopted: Whereas, the Enabling net of the Congress Con-gress of the United Suites, under which Utah became a State, provided that the convention, organized to form a constitution constitu-tion and Stato Government for tho proposed pro-posed State, should adopt ns an Irrevocable Irrevo-cable ordinance, a provision that the public school system of the Stato should b-j free from sectarian control; and Whereas, the constitution of tho State of Utah adopted by tho volcrf of members mem-bers of the dominant church necessarily contains this irrevocable ordinance, because be-cause Statehood could not have been had without It; and Whereas. In direct violation of tho solemn sol-emn plcdco made to our Nation and to the citizens of Utah, who aro not members mem-bers of the dominant church, large numbers num-bers of the members of tho Mormon church In Salt Lake City havo for some years past In school nominations and In school elections, voted and worked strictly as sectarians seeking In so far as lay In their power to place the schools of the city, under the control of notorl-ouh notorl-ouh sectarians of their church: and Whereas, tho School Board of Salt Lake City has! for a considerable time been entirely controlled by .sectarians of tho Mormon church, with assistance vhlch has seemed always subservient, and Whereas, tho city of Salt Lake contains in fact as ohown by tho cnnvnsn of tho American party and the admissions of high cccleslasts of the Mormon churoh, a considerable majority of non-Mormons of many religious beliefs; and Whereas, tbo members of no other church havo, at any time, attempted In pny degreo to control tho publlo schools; Resolved First, that wo now arraign thoso members of tho dominant church who have thus violated tin pledges to the Nation nnd to the non-Mormon cltl-cis cltl-cis of this city, ns brealtorn of faith and unworthy of tho tltlo of truo American Ameri-can citizens, and wo deem tlm k-aders nnd priests of tho church as especially culpable In permitting the official organ or-gan of tho church at past elections for HWiooi orllcors to support sectarian nom-Jnnes nom-Jnnes and practically preach to Its readers read-ers that Mormons must control the public pub-lic schools. Second We call attention to tho bipartisan bi-partisan farce which has Just nominated nominat-ed for members of tho School Board foHr Mormons and two non-Mormons, nnd ask how miah nominations can be reconciled wjth tho pledges of the Stato to tho Nation. Third To tho comparatively small number of members of tho dominant church who believe In keeping faith with the Nation and who havo In the past opposed by their votes tho palpable programme to bring our schools under sectarian control, we pledge a tribute of honor for their assertion of manhood and womanhood as ngalnat ccclcslastl-clsm. ccclcslastl-clsm. Fourth Wo call attention to tho fact that our nominees aio not selected as churchmen, but as truo Americans, seeking seek-ing only to make Salt Lako City schools In fact wholly non-sectarian, and wo ask for them the voto of every citizen who believes that sectarianism should not control our schools Nominations Ratified. When the selections by wards had been reported to the chairman the nominations were ratified by the convention con-vention 'as a whole and a city committee commit-tee composed of the following persons was selected: First ward John A. Street, George L. Nve. Second ward Louis Bamberger. Third wnrd W. J. Barrete, R. S. Sleater. Fourth ward C. D. Rooklldgc, H. J. Dlnlnny. Fifth ward J. E. Darmer, George A. Sheets. |