Prest Wilford Woodruff Salt Lake City Dear Brother In anwser to your notification dated June 12th to go on a mission to great Britain. & I will be ready on the first mentioned date ever praying for welfare of Zion I am your Brother in the gospel Andrew Easton I heartily endorse Brother Easton as a Missionary to Great Britain. your Brother in the Gospel James Bowns. Bishop O.K. J. F. S.

LAST EDITION SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, TUESDAY, . VOL 5. NO. 228. HEADS OF THE CHURCH. Interview with President Woodruff and President Cannon on the Present Political Situation in Utah ABSOLUTE GOOD FAITH PREVAILS. The Leaders of the Church, in Unequivocal Terms, Declare That There is No Desire to Re-Estab- lish Old Conditions. Polygamy is a Dead Issue—The Church Will Not Attempt to Exer- cise Any Control Over Its Members in Political Matters —The Present Status of Affairs. The only argument put forward in opposition to the organization of par- ties on national lines in Utah is that people's party is not sincere in the dissolution that has been effected and that a plot has been laid by which the liberals are to be divided and the political control of Utah placed in the hands of the mormon people for pur- poses adverse to the interests of the gentile element. It has been urged that the movement, so far as the mor- mons are concerned, is being engi- neered by the church; and the demand has been made that the heads of the church should define their position in connection with the subject before the gentiles should be asked to believe that the members of the organization are sincere. In brief, it has been claimed that it is the purpose of the church to secure statehood for Utah, and through the alleged political control of its members, seize all the offices and carry on the government in the interest of mormons and against the interests of non-mormons. It is held that the church claims the right to exercise absolute authority over its members in all matters and that this extends to direct dictation as to whom they should vote for at all times. We are told that those who have joined the democratic and repub- lican parties have done so at the direc- tion of the heads of the church, that the people's party was dissolved at their dictation, and that its members will be subject at all times in the future to their absolute control. We are told further that polygamy has simply been suspended, to be re-established in the future under the protection of state laws enacted by mormon legislatures; and that these legislatures, elected by the decree of the church, will pass other laws intended to oppress gentiles and work virtual confiscation of their property. There are thousands of earnest gen- tiles who do not believe one word of the charges of bad faith that are put forward in connection with this matter, but there are others who are frightened by the pictures painted before their imaginations and who are honestly looking for further evidences of good faith on the part of the mor- mons before joining the present move- ment. The entire controversy turns upon this question of good faith, as was shown by the organ of the extremists when it declared in its issue of June 12th that it would yield to party di- vision if any evidence could be adduced that would be received in a court of law that the dissolution of the people's party was sincere. THE TIMES has held that the evidence of sincerity on the part of the mormons is abundant and satisfactory, but it has desired to satisfy all sincere doubters, and for that reason it determined if possible to secure expressions from President Woodruff and President George Q. Cannon upon the disputed point. Such expressions have been se- cured. They appear in connection herewith and they must clear away the last vestige of doubt from the mind of every man who is willing to yield to incontrovertible evidence. It is not often that these highest dig- nitaries of the church consent to under- go the modern process of interviewing, but when THE TIMES conveyed its de- sire to them and represented the public importance of the subject which it wished to cover, they consented to re- ceive its representative. When the lat- ter called at church headquarters in company with a gentleman who had consented to introduce him, President Cannon stepped into the reception room to greet his visitors. The news- paper man was invited to take a seat in the office and state his business. Pres- ident Woodruff was absent at that time, but President Cannon suggested that the points which it was desired to cover might be put in the form of interroga- tories which could be taken up and answered in detail. This was done and the questions which appear in the fol- lowing interview were propounded. The first counselor expressed his personal opinion that there was no reason why the queries could not all be answered and undertook to lay them before pres- ident Woodruff when that gentleman should be able to again appear at the office. The talk at the time ran on for half an hour and THE TIMES represen- tative was impressed by the manifest earnestness and sincerity of President Cannon. It was evident that he was deeply interested in securing the estab- lishment of conditions that would for- ever remove his church from the con- tentions of politics and that would leave its people free to ally them- selves with the national parti[es.] He told the story of the agitation within the church that led up to the renuncia- tion of polygamy, and it was made ap- parent that that renunciation could not be otherwise than absolute and final. President Cannon promised to have the matter taken up at the earliest pos- sible moment and to notify THE TIMES when the answers to the questions should be ready. The queries were laid before Presi- dent Woodruff and he and President Cannon jointly give THE TIMES the following as their deliberately expressed views on every question touched upon: "It was asserted that the people's party was dissolved by direction of the church. Is there any foundation for that charge?" "The people's party was dissoved, as we understand, by the action of its leading members. They have stated to us their convictions that the time had come for a division on national party lines. There has been a growing feel- ing in this direction for a long time, and the dissolution of the people's party is the result of that sentiment, and not the fiat or instruction of the church. The first intimation we had of dividing on party lines came to us from Ogden. There is, therefore, no foundation for the charge that the church brought about the dissolution of the people's party." "Does the church claim the right to dictate to its members in political matters?" "The church does not claim any such right." "THE TIMES has held that the ap- pearance of church management of the people's party during recent times re- sulted purely from the fact that the party was composed almost entirely of members of the church with prominent churchmen taking part in its affairs, and that there has not been church rule as charged. Is this view correct?" "THE TIMES has correctly stated the facts connected with the appearance of church management of the people's party. That party having been com- posed principally of members of the church, and self defense having com- pelled them to consult together and to decided concerning the best steps to be taken to preserve their rights, some color has been given to the charge that it was a church party. But this has not been done in a church capacity. Men have had influence in that party and been listened to according to their ex- perience, and not because of their official position in the church." "That being true, are we to under- stand that the church will not assert any right to control the poitical action of its members in the future?" "This is what we wish to convey and have you understand. As officers of the church we disclaim the right to control the political actions of the mem- bers of our body." "Will there be any reson why mem- bers of the church should come to- gether and vote solidly, if political con- ditions here are similar to those which prevail elsewhere?" "We cannot perceive any reason why they should do this in the future, if, as you say, political conditions should exist here as they prevail elsewhere." "Would leaders of the church counsel the support of church members, irre- spective of party affiliations?" "It is not probable that the leaders of the church would give any counsel upon such subjects, and certainly would not discriminate against equally suitable men because they were not members of the church. We would be in favor of voting for suitable men, regardless of their religious beliefs or associations." "Do you understand that those who join the republican and democratic parties will vote and work for gentile candidates of those parties as freely as for Mormon candidates?" "This is clearly our understand- ing, and we fully expect that former members of the people's party who join the two national parties will be true to their party convictions and sustain the nominees of their respec- tive parties, though they may not be members of the mormon church." "Is it your intention to advise mem- bers of the mormon church, when the people's party members have divided and after the liberal party has been broken up, to unite in favor of the mormon church and against the gen- tiles? Do you know of any intention or understanding on the part of the heads of the church to advise the mem- bers of the church, if statehood should be obtained, to unite and co-operate in respect to the interests of the church against the gentiles?" "We have refrained from interfering in political matters because our posi- tion, we ourselves not having a vote. But we would consider it the height of folly, even if we had a disposition to di- rect the members of our church upon political matters, to adivse them to unite in favor of our church and against the non-members thereof, if the present politcal movement should continue. We see no good reason, if the liberal party should break up, for any such division as has heretofore exited be- tween mormons and non-mormons. We have deplored the existence of this class feeling, and believe it has been a fruit- ful source of trouble. We shall hail with unfeigned gratification the time when the people of Utah, without re- gard to their religious views, can unite as citizens and labor for the advance- ment and prosperity fo the territory. If statehood should ever be obtained, all the influence we could use to break down the distinctions which have cre- ated such bitterness in the past would be exerted." "Do you believe that if Utah should be admitted as a state the mormons will unite in electing members of the church to the legislature, and that the legisla- ture will make any laws favorable to the mormons and unfavorable to the non- mormons?" "As we have already intimated, what- ever influence we can use will be exert- ed in favor of legislation that will be in the interests and for the benefit of the whole people. It would be most un- fortunate if any attempt were made to pass laws favorable to mormons and unfavorable to non-mormons. Any such attempt would be sure to bring upon the mormon people evils which they are desirious of averting. It is to our interest to furnish no pretext for the formation of an anti-mormon party, which would no doubt be the result if members of the church in the legisla- ture were to attempt to discriminate by legislation in favor of their co-religion- ists." "Is it your understanding that the people's party has honestly and in good faith dissolved, and that they will unite with the democratic and republican parties according to their convictions of what is right?" "This certainly is our understanding. We can perceive no reason why the representatives of the people's party should have taken their recent action unless it was their honest intention to unite themselves with the national parties." "Do you know of any intention on the part of the church or any of its offi- cers or members every to organize a political party with respect to the con- ceived interests of the mormon church?" "We know of no such intention on the part of anyone, and can see no ob- ject to be attained, under the new con- ditions which now surround us, by or- ganizing any such party." "Do you undersand that it is the wish of the mormon church to maintain a separation of church and state with respect to all political quesions?" "However much appearances may have indicated that we have favored the union of church and state, and not- withstanding the many assertions which have been made of this nature, there is no real disposition among the people of our church to unite church and state; in fact, we believe there should be a separation between the two. But in past times the situation if this territory was such that officers of the church were frequently elected to civil office. If the people availed themselves of the best talent of the community they were under the necessity very frequently of selecting officers of the church to fill these positions. You must understand that nearly every reputable male member of the mormon church holds office in the church. Of course, where the people, as was the case in many localities, were all mormons, if they elected any of their own members they had to choose men who help position in the church. Men were selected for bishops because of their superior ability to care and manage the affairs of their wards. They were the practical and experienced men of their several com- munties, and in the estimation of the people were suitable for legislators, etc. Their election to civil offices led to the idea that was a union of church and state." "Do you believe that it is the wish of the mormon people to unite with the great national parties and conduct politics in this territory as they are conducted in all other states?" "That is the impression we have re- ceived from conversation with men among us who take the greatest inter- est in political matters." "Is there any reason why the mem- bers of the church should not act freely with the national parties at all times?" "We know of no reason why they should not." "Would the leaders of the church, under any circumstances, countenance defiance of the laws against polygamy?" "Speaking for ourselves, in view of the experiences of the past, 'No, they would not.' " "Would leaders of the church, if placed in official position, wink at vio- lations of the anti-poly[g]amy laws?" "We cannot say what others might do, but for ourselves we say, 'We would not wink at violations of the law.' " "Would there be any desire among church leaders to abolish the laws against polygamy or to make them less stringent if Utah were admitted to statehood?" "You may rest assured that church leaders would neither attempt them- selves, nor advise others to attempt, to abolish those laws, if Utah were to be- come a state." "Is it your understanding that if a member of the mormon church, since the issuance of the manifesto and its adoption by the church, should enter into polygamy he would thereby violate the creed of the church, and would it be wrong for him to do so?" "We ought to state to you that we have no creed. We have what are called the articles of faith, among which, however, there is nothing said concerning polygamy. A member of the church who should now enter into that relation would violate the rule of the church, and he would considered a wrong-doer." "Would you or any officer of the church authorize a polygamous mar- riage or countenance the practice of unlawful cohabitation?" "Again we have to say we can only speak for ourselves, and say that we would not authorize any such marriage or practice violative of the law." "Is it your understanding that the mormon people are in good faith ob- serving the laws of the United States prohibiting polygamy and unlawful cohabitation?" "That is our understanding." "Is there any foundation for the charge that the mormon leaders are now engaged in a political conspiracy to secure political power for the church?" "There is not the least ground for any such statement. We are not en- gaged any conspiracy of this char- acter." "Is there anything to be gained for the church by securing political control in Utah with or without statehood?" "We see nothing to be gained for the church in this way." "Is it not true that the member and leaders of the church desire to place it in a position in the community like that occupied by other church societies?" "The only protection the church de- sires is that which it should obtain un- der general laws which secure the rights of all demonations. It would be most unwise for the mormon people to en- deavor to secure any advantage not shared in by other religious people. All that we ask is to have equal rights be- fore the law." "Is it your understanding that the mormon people differ as to republi- can and democratic parties, and that they will act in accordance with their convictions in uniting with those parties?" "That is our understanding." "Is it your wish that the republican and democratic parties should organize and present their principle to the mor- mon people, and that they should unite with them according to their honest convictions?" "Personally we have felt that the time would come when the two great parties would be organized in this ter- ritory, and we have felt that if an at- tempt of this kind should be made, each should have the fullest opportunity to lay its principles before the people, so that they might have a clear under- standing of the issues and be able to decide, in the light of facts presented to them, to which of parties they would belong." "That being true, could anything be gained by bad faith even if it should be contemplated by any of the former members of peoples' party?" "Certainly not." "The opponents of party division on national lines declare that they want evidence of the sincerity of the mormon people. THE TIMES would ask you to state whether the declaration of sin- cerity on the part of those leaders who have been before the public relfect your views and meet with your approval." "Those declarations express our views and have our entire approval. What greater evidence can be asked than those which have already been furnished? The statement has been repeatedly made that the great objec- tion to us was our belief and practice of patriarchal marrige. In entire good faith the manifesto was written, signed by the leading men, and adopted by one of the largest general confer- ences of the church ever held—a con- ference composed of about 15,000 people. It has been asserted, in addition, that the people were governed by the priesthood in political matters. This is now disproved by the dissolution of the people's party and the union of its members with the two national parties. What could possibly be gained by the action of the people if they were not sincere? If the elements of sincerity were wanting, such a movement would result in entire demoralization."