Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1879-02-18


mon Vote What the Mormons are
Playing for---The Real Reason Why
an Attempt was Made to seat Two
Mormo ns fin the LeEisiature---R istO-
nv OF Political affairs in Oneida ana
Bear Make Counties, &C., &c.
MALAD Cry, Oneida Co, Feb. s, 1879.
ED. Womb The present deadlock
in the House Of Representatives at the
{ Capital being attributable TO the situation
Of political affairs in Oneida county, ii
may possibly be Of interest TO the readers
~ your apef as to how and why it Is SO.
The real reason is studiously attempted to
be kept in the background by the So
called Democratic paper, and also by the
Statesman = at least such seems 20 us to
he The case. and, with your permission, l
/ will cndcavur, briefly, TO recount Il few OF
the incidents that have helped to bring
the present situation about.
| You are doubtless well aware that there
exists in Oneida and Bear Lake counties
| II political element difierentfrom anything
| found elsewhere in the Territory or in any
other portion Of the United States outside
0f Utah. For the past five years its
strength has been steadily increasing, I'M
/ I'LL at the late election, it cast no solid
votes, an ample power with which to con-
troll the result Of any election in the Terri
] tory, or to dictate terms to any convention,
met for the purpose of nominating candi-
dates. This rate is always cast solid for
any candidate whom the leaders select as
4 representing their peculiar interests, and
il never given to any candidate except up
on positive pledges of fealty to their
cause. In other words, the candidate OF
their choice must first pledge himself to
stand BY q law breaking, iaw-detying and
4 INSCRIPTIONS priesthood in Congress, in
the Legislature, or anywhere he may be
/ placed In power before the fiat issues from
the leaders to cast the votes of the organi-
zation for him. And it makes no differ
ence rs 10 party or politics Of the candi-
| date. The entire vote is controlled by one
man, who issues manifesto from his
throne in Salt Lake city, and whose pow.
CIR is as supreme rs that of a sovereign. Ii
may be to-day cast for Democratic can
didate and tomorrow for Republican
candidate but will always go with that
party, which Is enabled to offer the great
est inducements, or to that candidate who
will pledge himself most completely to
their Interests
AT the late election this particular ele
ment, for the first time in its history, took
upon itself the name DEMOCRAT. 1t sup
ported Mr. Ainslie, presumably for the
reasons before stated. 1t called Itself
DEMOCRAT in pursuance to an agreement
i by the so-called party leaders at Boise
/ City duly entered into with Bishop Hart
of Bear Lake county, and who undertook
10 control this county also, that if they
would do so they--the Democratic party
of the Territory--would see that every
one of their candidates were seated in the
Legislature, no matter whether defeated al
the polls or not, and it was solely upon
this understanding that the poor Mormon
dupes and simpletons Woodwork and
Homer undertook the long journey ofthrec
hundred miles to the Capital in The dead
OF winter, in an open wagon, having been
so ordered to do by the authorities Of the
Mormon Church at Salt Lake city, in or
der 10 contest the seats Of Messrs. Stalker
and Jones, both Democrats, but not Nor
moas, aAd who were us fairly elected as
was any member of the Legislature; Mr.
/ Clemens, The defeated member Of the Coun-
ell who contested Maj Highs seat was al
SO Il party to the same agreement, and
! though heretofore an opponents of the
| Mormon party, was supported by them in
pursuance Of bargain SINH III in its ma
ture to that mentioned, and has now joined
their organization as fully as ii baptized
and confirmed with the secret mysteries of
i the polygamous outfit.
These are the REAL reasons why the
House Of Representatives viii not effect
an organization, The Republican mem
bcrs understand the bargain, and from the
actions Of Catalan 81 Co. early in the SEES
| sion it is plainly evident that Stalker and
Jones are TO be kicked out without even a
| hearing, provided there is power in the
/ Democratic Mormon branch to do so, for
| they are bound to keep their word or lose
cast with their Mormon friends. And the
! Republicans are rs seemingly, and ii is
| hoped as fixidly determined that no such
| injustice shall be done. In the ordinary
course of things either of the two contend
ing factions would readily give way in the
interests Of niece sary legislation, which
must be enacted at the present session, but
| ii, as now seems to be the case, subservien-
/ cy 10 Mormon interests are Of more i'm
portance TO the Democratic party OF the
Territory than all else beside, the people
should know it, and in the future look
well to the character of the servants they
elect to serve them in the halls of legisla-
ton.
Six years ago this Mormon element
first niruded itself into public notice in
political circles. Ii voted then for Mr..
Haley, but, it is believed, without any
bargain ON his part AT that election it
cast about three hundred votes, but did