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Show OHUBOH-OWNED, NOT TREE. Tho Dcserct News lays claims to being be-ing an independent newspaper, and that as such it has a right to express political politi-cal opinions, and to advocato support of certain candidates. Tho uttor impossibility im-possibility of thero being any truth in this claim is Bhown in tho testimony of Josoph F. Smith at Washington. Concerning the Dcserct News ho said: Mr. Tayler. What do you know about lta present ownership? Joseph P. Smith, I presume that the present ownership Is In tho church. Mr. Tayler. You suppose tho present owner Is tho church? Joseph F. Smith. Yen, air; tho church. It is not unlikoly that tho church or gan would mako a play upon tho Smith word, "presume," in order to attempt to show that there was no positivo declaration dec-laration concerning tho ownership Of that paper; but wo can readily show that tho uso of that word was merely au exhibition of tho slinking evasion sometimes employed by tho prophetic witness, and which is always a favorito rofugo for the News. Questioned with rcfereuco to tho issuo of a book by Elder B. II. Roberts, Mr. Smith protended pro-tended that ho did not know that its publication was authorized by tho church; nor that the church actually printed tho book; nor that tho church owned tho book; nor that it authorized any of tho statements contained in tho work. But Mr. Tayler happened to havo a copy in tho committco room, and tho prophet was soon brought to a full possession of memory, if not a senso of truth, when tho attorney for tho protestauta against Reed Smoot read the following from the titlo page, and tho following page, of the work: Mormonlsm. Tho relation of tho church to Christian sects. Origin and History of Mormonlsm. Doctrines of the church. Church organization. Present Pres-ent status. By B. H. Roberts. Published by the church. Descrot NewB print. Salt Lako City. Copyrighted by Joseph F. Smith, for the Church of Josus Christ of Latter-day SalutB. Tho Deseret News is owned, priuted, published by and speaks for tho Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tho church would no more dare to rc-pudiato rc-pudiato what, tho News says editorially than it would dare to rcpudiato the conclusions con-clusions presented in Mr. Roberts's book, printed under its own copyright aud approval. Joseph F. Smith, presi- dent of the church, knew what the Roberts book contained before ho purchased pur-chased the copyright. Joseph F. Smith, president of tho church, knows tho nature na-ture of any News editorial upon any important question before it appears in the News. He has approved both beforo their presentation to the public. pub-lic. Uo can not ropndiato either, because be-cause he authorizes both. Therefore, the Descrot News is no more independent of tho church than is Mr. Roberts's "Mormonism; Its Origin and History." And ono has no moro right to advocate tho election of a certain political candidate than has tho other. |