The American Party in Utah Politics: A Study in Religious and Social Conflict 1904-1912
Graduation Date
Summer 1950
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Degree Granting Institution
Catholic University of America
Program Name
Humanities
Abstract
This essay traces the second Liberal movement in the political history of Utah. The first Liberal party was launched in 1869, and wes disbanded in 1894 with the advent of the two major national parties and the agitation for statehood. This first Gentile movement was a collective organization to oppose the political control of Utah by the Mormons. The Liberal party thus formed has been adequately treated in an H. A. essay submitted to the History Department of the University of Utah.
The second Liberal party, the American party, has received only cursory mention In a few general histories of Utah, since this local party resembled the Liberal party in formation, aims, methods end final dissolution, this dissertation, treating the second Gentile attempt to overthrow Mormon domination, is warranted. The American party was begun in 1904. Its organization was occasioned by opposition to the testimony, given by Joseph Smith, president of the Mormon church, and by other leaders of the hierarchy, in the trial of Senator Smoot before the Committee on Privilege and Elections in the Senate of the United States. The Gentile group in Utah held that the testimony was a reflection on the integrity and moral character of the Gentiles, and was evidence of the control of the Mormon Church, in shielding violations of the national and state laws against polygamy.