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Show PROOF IN REVERSE. Continuing its ' 'argument " against tho American party, the Smoot "Mouth" yesterday morning cilcd. as an evidence that the Mormon church is not in control of politics, the fact that no prohibition la.w was passed at the recent session of the Legislature. This is exceedingly grotesque; it is even humorous. hu-morous. The idea that the Mormon hicrarchs hic-rarchs arc not in control because a prohibition pro-hibition law that they did not want, failed to pass, is one of those idiotic arguments of which the "Mouth" seems to be so full. There was- never- at any time any serious intent among the chief authorities authori-ties of the Mormon church to have a prohibition law passed. It is true that some of the minor ecclcsiasts made a good deal of outciy in support -of a pro- hibition law. It is true that Apostle Hcbcr Hc-bcr J. Grant made himself particularly notorious in this behalf. But it is also true that whenever Hcbcr X Grant comes out openly in that manner, his activity is merely a blind. It usually usual-ly means something just the opposite, lleber .1., in his Brigham City speech, claimed that all of the twelve except ono were for prohibition. Jn his speech at Lehihc practical!- designated Smoot as tho one who was not with the others of the twelve for prohibition. And ycb tho elevemdid not come out for prohibition. prohibi-tion. In fact, it soon became an open secret that President Joseph F. Smith was not for prohibition, in spite of the fact that Hcbcr .1. claimed, in his Brig-ham Brig-ham City speech, that President Smith was with him in his alleged fight for prohibition. It has since transpired that President Smith had said in a recent re-cent speech at Manti that "personal reformation is belter than enforced prohibition." pro-hibition." Up to a certain time, the Dcscrct News, organ, of tho church, seemed fierce for prohibition. Then oho evening even-ing it published a rumor claimed to bo afloat that it was going to be "called off" on this question. But it protested pro-tested thnt it would never bo called off, aud yet, while protesting it would ne'er consent, consented. And from that day its zeal for prohibition could hardly bo seen, even with a microscope. micro-scope. The lower House of the Lccrislaturc. by almost unanimous vote, passed a prohibition bill. And yet when tho question enmc to be a real issue later on only about one-third of the incm-bershify incm-bershify could be rallied for prohibition. Why? Simply because, it had been ascertained as-certained that; Joseph Jb Smij.li did not want prohibition, and that the higher authorities of the church would not stand for such legislation. j Jt was understood all along thnt Gov- I oruor Spry would veto a prohibition bill if one -was passed. That meant that he understood fully the position of the higher priesthood- It mennl that he knew that the compact made by the ''Federal bunch" with the liquor denl-ors denl-ors lo get the liquor vote last fall for I he church 's local ticket was approved by President Smith, and that good faith with the liquor men must be kept. In view of all these facts, and of others that are equall- notorious, it is indeed a singular piece of idiocy- on the part of the Smoot "Mouth" to come on I with a claim that the failure to pass a prohibition law at the recent scs siou of the Legislature was proof that the church is not in politics, and does not, undertake lo control in civil affairs. It is positive proof to tho contrary of (he very things that the "Mouth" brings forward. Tf the leading uuthori-Use uuthori-Use of the church had, in fact, been earnestly for prohibition, there is not tho least doubt in the world but that a prohibition bill would, have passed the Legislature and been signed by the Governor. For in that case Governor Spry would have known that tho president presi-dent of the church did not agree to the compact with the liquor dealers, and he would havo seen that his only hopo for a political future in this State was to how his neck to the hierarchy yoke, and sign the bill which they desired. |