New-York tribune., 1889-12-26
MORMONISM IN IDAHO.
DELEGATE DUBOIS THINKS STATEHOOD
WOULD SUPPRESS IT.
EFFECTIVE REMEDIAL LEGISLATION Dirf
TO OBTAIN UNDER TERRITORIAL
FORM OF GOVERNMENT
"a n. rdffar OF Ths Trfbune

FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
70 the Edftor OF The TrfouHs . =,
Sir: In a very able editorial in The Irlp""o
December 20, relative TO Statehood for lu"io
Mormonlsm in that Territory, you say Inc en-,
will want TO understand from Mr. Dubois VIVA. ",0
onect of the Mormon balance Of power I'm ldaho Is
likely TO be upon legislation elections social ana Quiet
affairs
The editorial shows true conception Oh .ae u''ii
gers 10 our form OF government which the 'io'
organization constantly threatens. but does no, eo
to realize the advantage which statehood "ouu e''
the people Of Idaho in dealing with TINS ques"V''
one Of the strong arguments in favor OF our doi'h'
sion is that as a state, we could put an emu ~ ~"
Asiatic despotlsm and lcentiousness 20 far as uao
is concerned and could be potent factor ior It's
destruction in Utah The Gentlles I'm Idaho arc uhleu
in opposition TO this reasonable organization, "o
same as they are in Utah. Mormonism "ouIu NV
last five years IN Utah. as il is taught ana Prao
tsed il the power TO enact legislation against 'o "
stitution was placed in the hands OF the Ahs,i.'"
citizens OF that Territory. The same is true III lu"
The difficulty we encounter in Idaho, and the SAINT
is truc Of Utah is this: Congress will not leelsauc
directly against the political power Of the hierarchy
nor does 1t make the penalty for unlawful conaoi'
ton and kindred poly gamous practices comn'esu"'
with the crime We are estopped, as a Territory
from enacting such laws the conditions dehlanu.
As a State we can absolutely control the eeo"'0
franchise No one disputes this While there j 'oN
tenton as to the constitutlonalty Of our test oath
which practically dsfranchises Mormons the grouhu oi
objecting is that Territorial Legislature has no1 'e
mower to enact such legislation. II is not seriously
contended that the law interfcres with religious DC
lief Judge Berry, Of Idaho, In decision oh u,o
validity of the test OATH very apty saiu' W.
know of no law making such an act (of votlhs)
religious rite or ceremony No one has hau 'ne
temerty to argue in court that state c0dld not c
our test oath7 All admit that 1t could; put sumo
DENY the power of the Territory, the Territory j.
the creature Of Congress. The Constitution adop'cu
nv our people last November contains the PROVISIONS
of the test oath" that If Congress accepts H. VIC
will have fixed beyond repeal the strongest leGsla
ton which we could enact as a Territory Inc
Constitution also contains clause giving 10 thc
Legislature power to prescribe conditions lor 'io
right Of suffrage additional to those prescnDeu III
the Constitution but preventing it from annulng any
qualifications limitations conditions prescribed III
the Constitution. No people understand better iha
the Americans of Idaho that every function Of citizen
ship performed by Mormon is under the dlctauoh Vi
Mormon priests and for the benefit Of the Mormon
organization For that reason we disfranchise them
by our Territorial laws and recent Constitution.
That there is no difference of opinion between Tie
Tribune and our keOple Is plain from this statement
We would not accept Statehood If the Mormons were
to be a balance Of power in the state. They would
corrupt and debauch politics, they did there prior
to 1884 giving their solid support to the party which
would favor them and cOuntcnance their crimes ana
hatred to the Government The Tribune does not
fully appreciate the effect Of our ant-Mornon lega-
ton. The Legislature of Idaho in 1S64-oj passed
law in substance and nearly in language similar TO
the clause in our Constitution framed last summer.
The Mormons did nct attempt to vote under that law
until 1885 They did vote at the election for Delegate In
Is55, but only after they cut of" from
membership In the Church By their priests. il was a
serious thing for them to attempt and they will not
try ii again. The United States Attorney for Idaho
was my opponent for Delegate at that election. and
had not the leaders of the Church confidently ex-
pcctcd his election and been fortified with the active
aid encouragement of himself and the United states
Marshal they could not have been brought to
the point Of resorting to this subterfuge
Hundreds OF them have been indicted since for per
Jury in voting at that election and some have been
convicted and sent to prison. Another important fact
must not be overlooked in this connection. Many
Mormons would leave the Church Il they dared and
numbers who were cutoff by order of the leaders
have taken advantage of their release and remain out
The Church authorities fully comprehend that they dare
not again resort to this trick without losing large num-
bers OF their followers and subiecting them to severe
and certain penalties.
The Mormon population Of Idaho is 10000, or $1,000
at the outside, 10 or II per cent Of the population
The Governor inadvertently stated IL at 10000, but
understand ne has corrected this in supplemental re
pOll 10 tHc SECRETARY Ol lHt
with 5000 $500 Bingham, $500 or 5000; oneida.
3,JO0 or 1000: Cassa. 900 or 300 IN cach oi
these counties there is large Gentle population Ia
two of them, Bingham and Cassa. Gentle majority
The last three Legislatures and the constitutional con
vcntOn practically unanimous in demanding that
MOrmOns be excluded from participation in political a
posing these bodies came from every county in the
Territory represented every interest IN it, represented
the interests Of both political parties, and the political
zeal of both parties Not political party. not the
representative OF one political party are ANXIOUS bu
each and every man, almost, throughout the IerTl
tory. who is not member Of the Mormon Church Is
cqally anxious that this Mormon question, which has
ever been troublesome one DE el,mihaleG rom ron a,
future politics Of the Commonwealth, and they are
confident this will be accomplished If the statehood
given under the constitution we have adopted, which
contains the following clause on suffrage:
Section 3. No person is permitted to vote. serve as
Juror or hold any civil Office who IS under guardianship
ldotc or insane who has at any place been convicted
treason felony embczzement of public funds, barerng
or selling or Offering Lartcr sell his vote pur-
chasing Offering purchase the Of another or
other infamous crime and who has not been restored TO
the right OF citizenship who at the time OF such eec
tion confined in prison conviction OF criminal
offence or is blgamist poygamist is living In
what patriarchal plural celestial marriage
or in violation any law OF this State Of the United
States forbiGding any such crime who I'm any manner
teaches advises counses ats any person
to enter into bisamy polygamy, such Ttriarehal
plural celestial marriage 10 live In violation OF any
such law or commit any such crime; who il men,
or contributes the support aid encouragement
NJ OrCcr. OfeanlLat0n dssOcduOn, corporation oI
society," which teaches advises counses encourages or
aids any person enter into bigamy polygamy suca
patrarchal plural marriages. which teaches or ad
the laws Of this State prescribing rules OF civil
conduct are the supreme law OF the State nor shall
Chinese persons OF Mongoian descent not born In
the United States Indians taxed who have NOS
their tribal relations and adopted the habits oil
either vote jurors, hold any civil
Dnce.
Section A. The Legislature may prescribe qualica-
tons limitations and conditions for the right Of suffrage
additional those prescribed in this article but shall
annul Of the provisions in this article contained
The Gentle population in Idaho is increasing rapidly
will continue to increase. The Mormon population
is not increasing and, in the nature OF things, cannot
grow 10 any formidable extent. The Mormon addition
to our population has come mostly from Utah. The
Church Is being crowded 10 the wall by the Gentes IN
that Territory, and they cannot spare large numbers
u their followers 20 cOlonze adjacent States WITH for
fear of losing control IA Utah The number OF foreign
recrult, 70 the Church is small and constantly growing
smaller. The Church could not long retain ts power
In Utah did 1t not control the land through ownership
tl,o nd nd Immigration Ia fah slde