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Show 'UTAH, AND THE MORMONS What J., M Studdbakcr, the Great; Mah- ufacturer Thinks of Them. - .7-.. Writes Lengthy Letter to his Home Paper at South Bend, Indiana. . It will bo renieinbcietl that Tim ItK-I'Uiilican ItK-I'Uiilican recently made mention of the fact that Mr. J M Studebakcr, head of the great Sturtebakci manufactory manu-factory at South llend, Indiana, was in the State on a tout of Inspection. The Republican is in lcculpt of the South Ilend Times containing a letter written by him In lefeience to his isit and stay among this people, The lettci contains many complimentary words for the Mormon people and without doubt they will tend It with plcasuie. It is as follows: Salt Lake City, Utah, Oct. 10, 1M5. Hon. .1. H. Stoll, Editor of The Times: Dear Mr. Stoll; As I have a few leisure moments I thought I would write jou a bilef report of my trip to this now great city of Salt Lake. What a contrast and change I see from my first visit, which is still fresh in my mind. In 18.VJ on my way to California, after u long and weary Journey In crossing the Missouri river, over the. sage brush plains and the rocky mountains, witli nothing to break the monotony of the trip except the constant vigilance necessary to see that the Indians did not get our scalps, wo passed down Emigrant canyon, and behold, it came upon us like a vision as of a new heacn and a now earth, when this beautiful Salt Lake valley so rightly named, came Into View. Wo saw a small lllago of adobe houses built fiom large blocks of blue claj molded Into shape, dried in the sun, and used by Ilrlgh.nn Voting in building humes for himself and his family and his followeis In the Mormon Mor-mon f.illh. Few there arc who can rcalic the haidshlpscndurcd by these people in opening to the woild this now beautiful and prosperous valley. It cannot bo excelled In tho world, with its snowcapped mountains on all sides, Its agriculture, its fruit, its great mines of gold, silver and copper. It has no peer. Salt lake, from which the city takes its name, is a beautiful body of water that can produce salt for the whole world for tho simple cost of hauling It awa. About Pres. Youmj. Is it fair to suppose that Drlgham Young, great man that he was, In planting the seed and colonizing this beautiful valley with the people of all countries, could have been a bad man? Do iou honestly believo that he. the first head of the Mormon church to enter this beautiful valley, could havo laid tlto foundation of what Is today one of tho largest and stiongcst and most prosperous church organbatlons In our country could this all havo bacn done in tho sight of God by a man and his followers If ho and they did not have a higher power for their guidance? Attends Conference. This is conference wdek, and I was invited by a Mormon bishop to attend their services on Sunday. I went and saw a sight that can be seen nowhero outsldo of Salt Lake city. The meeting meet-ing was held In their great tabernacle. There wcro said to be 13,000 people In-sido In-sido that church, and fully 0,000 outside out-side who could not get In. I was honored hon-ored with a seat among tho ptcsldents of the stakes. Tho sight of that vast assemblage of ono faith I shall never, forgot. Injfront of mo were tho dignitaries digni-taries and pillars of the church, at least 100 men, large) grav-halrrd men. with an appearance of dignity, honesty and ability. After a prajer by one of tho old patriarchs their leader and president, Joseph F. Smith announced the hymn to bo sung. Its title, "True to the Truth," composed by tho leader of the choir, and I want to say to j 011 It was tho lirst timoiii my life that song brought tears to my 1 - eyes. An organ that comes its near the human voice as can be, and with P00 trained voices in the choir, sent forth over this great audience music that made me fee) as though 1 had wings to carry mo to heaven. 1 never attended church anywhere where the service was more impressive, or where moro attention was given to the speaker; and what was said could not be justly criticised by Jew or Gentile. Their president, Honoraolc Joseph F. Smith, made the closing remarks of tho conference. They were beautifully beauti-fully expressed. He told tl)3m to offer up their earnest prayers to God for strength and guidance in their duties to their families, themselves, their God and their church. I will say that a more devoted and loval people to their church I havo never seen. Studebakcr Business. We do a large business in this coun ty. We employ 50 to 00 salesmen, nearly all members of the Mormon church. At our annual banquet given last Saturday night to our traveling men by our worthy manager, who is himself a Catholic, he called on all these men for a speech. Thoy responded re-sponded promptly, and In the many banquets that 1 havo attended of a similar nature, I never heard better or more approprlato remarks". One of their number, a bls'iop for 20 years and a son of one of the early apostles whom I knew, now dead, who has never had but one wife, made a splen did talk to joung men. Ho talked of their duties in life, that their motives should be those of purity, with a Christian spirit constantly uppermost in their minds. Ho enjoined upon his associates and co-workers to be loyal to their cause, lojal to their employers, employ-ers, and to have for their watchword honesty land honesty of purpose. I can only say that it Is most unfortunate unfortu-nate for the future welfare of Salt Lake that there does not exist a more charitable and brotherly feolingamong tho Gentiles and lcadors of tho Mormon Mor-mon church id Salt Lako In their political parties. A Large Family. In conclusion I thought the following follow-ing might bo of Interest to the wives and mothers at home. Ono of the early bishops, now go jears old, was, years ago, an agent for the salo of our wagons. Ho was as straight a man in business as I over dealt with. Ho had four wives. In my visit with him jesterday lie told me he had by theso four wives 41 children and li'i grandchildren, grand-children, greatgrandchildren not counted, with not a deaf, bllnd,crlpplo or imbecile In the lot. All were healthy and well educated and somo arc In high positions. Otic In San Francisco is a noted portrait painter. Not ono followed In his father's footsteps foot-steps as to wives None lias more than ono wife. This old patriarch's eyes Hashed If attempt was made to ridicule or say anything against tho polygamy of early days. 1 think ho said three of his wives were dead. He said of thorn: 'God knows I loved them ail, and they were happy. God knows I never loved any others Can our persecutors with one lawful wifo say as much?" 1 leave 3011 to Judge, Mr, Stoll, what is the answer. Wo go to Idaho today to seo the results re-sults of tho wpnderful development of that country. J. M Stui)i:hakj:u |
