Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1879-02-25
LITTER FROM MALAD crry
hALAD Cry, Oneida Co., Feb IA 10

cltIzens--of Idaho Territory have tol
meet can no longer be hid and smoth- |
cred by few wiley politicians. and I
the sooner the situation is discussed |
and understood the better II will be
for all concerned.
PIX years ago the Mormon Church
as party, first took an active part in
the politics Of the Territory. It's vote
at that time was small, and was main
y confined to that part Of Oneida
county now known as Bear Lake
county. Since that time it has in
creased rapidly in numbers, and at the
late election it cast fully one thousand
votes, or more than one-fifth Of the
entire vote OF the Territory. Bear
Lake county returned 1923 votes. eyery
one Of which was exactly alike-not
scratch or an alteration on single
ticket. Oneida county cast $50
straight Mormon votes with very
nearly the same degree Of uniformity.
Owytee county polled about $50 and
Lemhi probably something over a
hundred. In the two latter counties
It is not known whether they acted ID
concert aud voted for one particular
ticket or not, but if not it is only be-
cause their strength was not sufficient
To dictate any terms or they failed to
receive any positive orders from the
Church authorities 10 Salt Lake city.
i Tn Bear Lake county the Mormons
have as exclusive control of all poli!-
ical matters as in any portion of Utah.
Not single gentle resides within
the limits of the county, and if there
) was one he would not dare vote
against the church candidates, for by
so doing he would incur their enmity
and which always means prescription,
insult, and perhaps assassination, in
order to get him out of the way. Gen
eral G. G Rich, one of the twelve
apostles of the Mormon church, is the
leading light.in that county, and I'M
: der his instructions, which come
thre ugh him from Salt Lake City, ev
cry vote is cast, every officer is nomi
mated, and every public act of the cit
izen is controlled. Thus it will b.
seen that already one county in ou
young and promising Territory is rep
resented in the Legislature by ths
church authorities of Salt Lake City
and it may be that ere long two, anc
perhaps three others will be in thu
same situation. Bishop Hart and tn
Mormon organ at the capital may tr,
and insist that the issue in Oneid;
county is and has been between Dem
ocrats and Republicans, and this prop
osition will undoubtedly be endorsed
: by Elder Clemens, the defeated candi
date for the Council, and the only Ger
tile in Oneida county who would SCI
his manhood for place on q Mormo
ticket; but outside these exceptions n
: one not even the three polygamou
i Office hunters now at the capital, n
one cognizant of the situation will q
tempt to deny that the only politics
issue i'll Oneida county for sewers
wears past has been, and is now b'
! tween Mormons and anti Mormons, c
that political bias has had anything
!, do with the situation. We have Ell
tirely ignored party lines and hay
: elected both Democrats and Republi
y ans to the Legislature and Tor count
+, officers without ever enquiring WI;
a. were their political antecedents. IL
4 much.married Elder from Bear Lat
h unwittingly admits this to be the cas-
n aud in his ridiculous etiuslon pu