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Show SEARS EXPLAINS THE MATTER. No Use Trying- to Fight Uncle Sam, and tbe Polygamists If ad Better ' Come In Out oi the Wet. Few people there are in Ogden, says the News of last night, who do not know (or at least have not heard) of Septimus W. Sears, one of the shrewdest and most successful business men of the West, an unexcelled operator, and expert in the grain trade. S. W. Sears is a thorough business man, but still he is a human, and as such he happened to enter into matrimonial relations re-lations which, though sanctioned by the code of his religion, are declared criminal by the law of the land. It will be remembered re-membered that, last year, he went to Chicago with Belle Whitney, his alleged second wife.' In the Garden City he met with a close escape from a dreadful death, when the hotel in which he and his lady companion were putting up at the time caught fire, several lives being lost.- .The ubiquitous reporters of the wideawake Chicago papers were soon on his track and induced him to make various statements state-ments as to the hairbreadth escape, in which Belle was so afraid of being burned to death that she attempted to poison herself, rather than be roasted alive. Mr. Sears also lost considerable . property (wardrobe, jewelry and cash) in the conflagration con-flagration ; but more still, he apparently lost, for the nonce, that great selt-control and quick presence of mind which are leading features of his character and have enabled him to reach the exalted post on ' the ladder of financial success which he is holding at the present time, lie "gave himself away" by referring to his lady companion as "My wife Belle," and allowed his expressions to be transmitted trans-mitted over the wires by the Associated Press reporters. ' Of course, this news had no sooner reached Utah and the Argus eyes of the ever-alert "minions of the law" in Salt Lake City than they, well aware of the fact that he had ' already living in this Territory one lawfully wedded and undi-vorced undi-vorced wife, (MaryNeedham Sears), took steps to make use of the self-convicting evidence of the Co-op manager. In con-' con-' sequence thereof Mr. Sears was made the object of Deputy Marshals' vigilance, and was finally enmeshed in the intricacies of I the Edmunds law. . Still, he came back here and kept quiet, attending to his professional pro-fessional duties, awaiting the time when his appearance would be required in the Courts of his adopted country. The last act of the drama took place before Judge Zane, in the Third District Court at Salt Lake City, where Mr. Sears appeared and pleaded guilty to the charge. In this action Mr. Sears, to all accounts and appearances realized a considerable relief by having done his duty to the country to which he had pledged allegiance allegi-ance and obedience long years ago. He has evidently taken the whole matter from the standpoint of a shrewd, careful, cautious, business man, who prefers the certainties of the here below to the uncertainties uncer-tainties of the dim hereafter, especially as he will be all the better enabled to continue providing for those whose lot he once tied up with his own. At least, so the News "judges, whose editor had the pleasure of shaking hands with Mr. Sears at the depot, this morning, before the latter's return to the Territorial capital, whence he had come up last evening on business. The following conversation took place on the occasion : "Mr. Sears," queried the Faberite, "I understand that you intend removing to Chicago to enter in the grain business on your own hook ?" . " "You do not surprise me by repeating what a morning paper states ; but I can assure you that this is hews to me ; although al-though if I Bhould take such a step I am tolerably certain that I'd not get left." "Your stand in court yesterday is largely commented on, and "greatly commended com-mended by many." "That I do not know nor care ; I did what I thought was right: If I thought or believed that we people of the church could beat the United State on this issue, I'd fight all in my power ; but as I do not think that way, I have submitted to the law as laid down." The News' scribe, not then wishing to press the delicate matter to further ends, asked: "How did you find business?" "I think business shows signs of improvement. im-provement. The Co-op. is steadily taking j firmer ground." "How about grain?" "Well, I don't know much about grain. Here the reporter could not suppress a smile of the most decided incredulity. But I think there is great doubtfulness in the market. The Bulgarian war scare raised the price 8 or 9 cents a bushel ; but as that is likely to blow over, wheat mav again take a. tumble, although it is a difficult diffi-cult thing to determine ahead." "To revert to your future plans, do you really intend to go to Chicago?" resumed the irrepressible interviewer. "As I have already told you, I am not decided, as yet. I may go to Chicago, or San Francisco, or New York, or some other large centre of trade. At any rate, if I go anywhere, it will be a place that gives me ample scope for speculation; I'll either make much money or be broke quick." "Once more, Mr. Sears," continued the importunate reporter, "what do you think the result of your action and Bishop Sharp's will be?" "That is not for me to tell. Possibly our move was a few months too early ; but I do believe it may come to a general acceptance of it. Anyway, it's the best thing our people can do, under existing circumstances." "All aboard, Denver & Rio Grande !" "Good day, Mr. Sears." "Good day, sir." . After the foregoing, is it a wonder that S. W. Sears shonld resign his lucrative position in Z. C. M. I. ? And can anyone honestly accuse him of trucklinsr to Mam mon when he relinquishes Moloch? There has been much talk about Church and State in Utah; but it is more than that: It is Church, State, and Business. S. W. Sears does not believe in that Trinity With him it is the Unitarian principle of Business; that-is as good a loadstar to follow as any. Of course, the action of so prominent a member of the Church of Jesu3 Christ of Latter-day Saints, especially one so well-known well-known in this communitv, could not fail to elicit comment on all 'sides, Some of the expressions we: o gathered by our reporters, re-porters, who hear-1 s entiments snch as follow herein: "Sep. ought to have known better. He covenanted for life and eternity with both of his wives. What does he now break his solemn agreements for, with one of them?"., "Sears is a brick. He knows that business busi-ness is business." j . , - "I am sorry to have to learn that Brother Bro-ther Sears would do as he has done There are older men in the Church who have taken upon themselves the ignominy of incarceration, and still they feel joyful Why did he shrink the consequences of 7-1 0nce' at least Professed to be his laith ; "Mr. Sears is a man of business. Is he not more use to that branch of the Church called Z C. M. I., outside of the Pen than he would be inside of it ? Brains like his are scarce in our brotherhood ; we can't spare them." ' m "But, where is the consistency ? Where is the steadfastness becoming an elder of the everlasting covenant?" "Yes, but where are Presidents Taylor, Cannon, and Smith. Sears paid $300 and costs, out of his own pocket. Where are their fines?" , "Their principles are as firm as the heavens; his are based on the fluctuating floor of the Chicago Grain Exchange." "Still, don't you think he is doing what all the sensible men of the church will do ere long?" "Never, we'll stick to the revelations." "But then, won't the. church be disrupted dis-rupted by having its leading lights in commercial circles disavow the cornerstone?" corner-stone?" "Why, don't you see? . Perhaps it's all a feeler. Wail till the October conference in Logan." |