"Did you mean to advise Mormons to cease being Republicans and Demo- crats?" "No, I did not. I am in favor of par- ties. I wanted the people to work for the election of good men to our city offices. That was all. I did not advise the election of Mormons to office. I am anxious for the election of men, whether Mormons or non-Mormons, who will manage our city affairs economi- cally. I do not wish my remarks to be understood as applying to people of our church only. As a citizen and tax- payer, I desire all good citizens to unite for the election of good officers."

"I meant that we had the right to express our views as citizens. It has been claimed, not only by people out- side of the church, but by Mormons as well, that the higher church officers should be silent in political matters. But I differ from them. As President of the Mormon church I claim no right to dictate to any one in politics. When I speak on political matters I speak simply as a citizen, interested in the welfare of the people. I feel that I have a right, as an individual Ameri- can citizen, to speak on political ques- tions. I don't think that any man, be- cause he is a priest, has any right to dictate in politics. But I claim that a Mormon priest has as much right to speak of political matters as has a Methodist or a Baptist minister or a Catholic priest. He has no right, however, to use his priesthood to in- fluence people politically, and I have no intention of using mine for that purpose."