Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1882-09-25
IDAHO'S DISGRACE.
THE DEMOCRATIC TERRITORIAL.
CONVENTION.
Jack. Mormon George RenOminated I'm.
der Instructions from the Church
Delegates from Three Chief Counties
Withdraw in Disgust.

The Bear Lake Democrat, the Nor
mon organ Of Idaho, some time since
made the statement that Ainslie was
"the only man that could help us"
the word "us," in that connection,
meaning the Latter-day Saints. The
record Of Mr.. Ainslie substantiates
the assertion. 1t is doubtful il any
one outside the pale Of the Church
has accomplished SO much within the
past three years as has our jack Nor
mon Delegate, faniliarly known as
"Bishop George" and he has received
as his reward for fidelity to Cannon
and the Church generally, the highest
political honor ever bestowed on any
Congressional candidate in Idaho,
that of nomination for Il third con-
secutive term.
1t is true that the spirit Of some
ness" so strenuously preached from
the polygamous pulpit Of Utah by
those who control Idaho politics, was
not quite SO manifest as the brethren
would have preferred. The Demo-
cratic party of Idaho has still many
patriotic members who believe fidelity
to the laws and interests of the Terri
tory, obedience to the National laws
and respect for the decisions of the
| Supreme Court of the land to be
paramount to partisan success. But
all such were summarly sat down
upon in and out Of the convention.
Ii is not long since that certain en-
issarics from the Mormon Church, sons
of President Taylor, visited our Terri
tory and preached to the brethren of
Oneida county ON the duties they
owed to themselves and their church,
including obedience to counsel and
submission to all her pricstly cdicts,
winding W with a peremptory order
to the Saints to stand BY George Ain
size as the nominee of the Mormon
Church for third term in Congress.
In obedience TO these instructions up
on the assembling Of the Convention
at Boise City, on sept. Is, the eleven
Mormon delegates We're unanimous for
Ainslic, and the formalitv of n nom
nation was proceeded with. "A poly
gamous bishop from Oneida county
started the bah by nominating Hon
George Ainslie, which action was
warmly approved by Bishop Bulge,
another polygamous member control
ing the three votes of the delegates
from Bear Lake county. "rhe trail
Of tbn M,r,,,,, ,y,, ,,,,n, - al ,, ,l
was so repugnant to the Judgment
of the better class Of delegates that
the representatives. from three of the
leading and most progressive coun-
ties, namely, Ada, (the capital county,)
Alturas, Containing the Wood River
country,) and Lemhi, Salmon River
conntry,) Withdrew III il body and re-
fused longer to honor the Convention
even by their presence. With these
twelve delegates out OF the way,
there were but twenty three members
left to vote on the nomination, so
that but one vote was necessary to be
added to the eleven ecclesiastical rep
resentatives to give the Mormon NOM
hi'S Il HlhJoii,y VI liioSc ilcscIll,
which was easily obtained; the re-
naming Gentiles from the other coun-
ties seeing themselves in minority
wheeled into line for ''harmony's
sake the nomination was then made
unanimous according to the most APP
proved Mormon Conference rules OF
unanmity As fitting climax to this
entertaining ceremony after obeyino
the dictates Of law-defying Mormon
missionaries from Utah, and surrend-
ering all control to disfranchised poly
gamous delegates the following clause
was inserted III the platform with all
apparent seriousness. 'Ihat the Con
stitutlon guarantees perfect freedom IN
religious belief and accords TO every
} citizen the right to worship God ac,
cording TO the dictates of his own CON
science, yet we are unalterably oppos
ed to any practices religious or other
wise that contravene the letter OF
spirit of the Constitution of our com,
mon country and the laws made il
pursuance thereof. The solemn face.
Of the delegates broadened into IA sus
ceptible grin as this transparent clause
was adopted, though some moved {
little uneasily in their seats as the,
wondered how this could b.
reconcled with the actions
Of their politicians in tn,
Legislature, conventions and else
where, or with the manifesto publish
a ed under sanction of the Democrat,
Central Committee less than two year
$ ago, part of which was in the follow
ing words: $50 long as the uphold
ers of Mormonism maintain an organ
ization in unison with the Constitu
I ton, Congress can neither disfranchis
nor Republican President destro,
them by force of arms, loud bowls t.
the contrary Notwithstanding.
Thp MoImOns vote the Democrat ri