The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-07-29
MORMON POWER,
How 1t is Displayed in Idaho and Other
Far Western Territories.

Far western Territories.
Eastern readers who suppose that
/ Mormonism is confined to Salt Lake
City and Utah are very much mis-
taken. The great mass of the Mormon
population, which numbers something
like $50, 900 all told, exists, thrives and
breathes the free air of the United
States beyond the border lines of Utah.
Like great octopus, the head is at
Salt Lake City, but the arms stretch far
out into Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon
and Idaho. The Latter Day Saints
have been for some time swarming up
into Idaho, where they are at present
political power. Most of the south
ern counties of Idaho are controlled
by MormOns, but the recent indictments
against them at BlackfoOt leave the
impression that the respectable portion
OF the community mean business and
intend, if possible, to stamp out the
vice. Notwithstanding the crusade
against them in that territory, noise
less exodus of Mormons from Utah to
Oneida County, Idaho, has been going
on quietly for some time. The rem
devious seems to be an island in Snake
river, near the mouth of Henry fork.
1t is said that 5000 Mormons have
already gone there and that the exodus
is still going on. In Il Utah paper not
long ago an advertisement was printed
that special rates would be given to
INN r. Ttoh
Northern railroad. 1t would be all
right for these people to seek the beau
tiful Idaho valley for homes. but it is
well known that they come for politi-
cal reasons. Idaho is perhaps more
firmly in the grip of the polygamist
than any other State or Territory, not
even excepting Utah.
There are thirty Mormon churches
in Colorado, forty in Oregon, sixty in
Arizona and seventy in Idaho.
For some reason or other Mormon
ism doesn't thrive well in Montana.
There are plenty of long-haired patri-
archal missionaries up here all the time.
but they don't get any wives in this
Territory; they have to bring them all
with them. Still, if the truth must be
told, they certainly do succeed in max
ing few converts, but their prosely-
ting is all confined to the foreign
population, principally late arrivals
from across the water. With all their
oily Establishments and splendid in
ducements they don't catch any Ameri-
can girls, who have better sense than
to be taken in by such silly talk, The
60, 10 .,,1N
Norwegians. Danes and English, and.
strange to say, they are for the most
part married women. The bait held
out is a fine farm, which part of the
agreement is truly carried out. and the
wife gets the husband to snap at the
pretty fly with her, and so they become
prOselytes to the Mormon faith. whether
they embrace polygamy or not. The
titles for these lands remain forever
vested in the church.
There are about %, 0O0more bachelors
in Montana than there are women
altogether. Nearly all of these $4,000
have splendid ranches. farms or claims
of some kind, and need only wife to
complete their cup of happiness. The
vast Territory OF Montana contains
innumerable bachelor homes. and these
bachelors would make the best of hus-
bands, if given half chance. The
little town of Maiden, a few miles north
of here, contains not a single I'M
married lady. The small village only
ten miles west of us is simply COM
munity of bachelors. These thousands
of young men. middled-aged men and
old men all have comfortable bank ac-
counts, and would marry on the
slightest provocation, so to speak.
Each one is calculated to make some
woman happy, and would give the
damsel who cared to risk her future
with him all the ready cash she could
possibly spend in this world. No
wonder our bachelors hate the Mormon
males who have more than their share
of female blessings. Nile city On. IT,
Cor. N. Y. Mail and Express.