The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-09-09
ARIZONA MORMONS.

The Republicans of Arizona, at their re
cent territorial convention. adopted reso-
luton in favor of the disfranchisement of
the Mormons. They want the Idaho test
oath transplanted to their territory There
is no sufficient reason for this. The Nor
mons in Arizona are comparatively few in
number. 1t is conceded by their worst and
most unreasonable enemies that thev are
peaceful, law abiding, Industrious, honest
and progressive. Even the late governor,
WoLFLET, and the present acting governor,
MURPHY, who have lead the anti Mormon
movement, admit that the Arizona Nor
mons do not practice polygamy, and that
they do not violate the laws of the terri
tory. When pinned down and forced to
give reason for the disfranchisement of
the Mormons your average Republican can
only say that he objects to the Saints vot-
ing because they vote the Democratic
ticket. That is the case in Arizona where
the majority of the handful of Mormons
who are trying to earn living in the terri
tory are in the habit Of voting for men
and principles which they approve, the re-
suit being the defeat of Republicans. If the
Democratic Mormons in Arizona would be
dishonest with themselves and would sup
port Republicans for Office, WoLFLEY
and his gang would be singing praises of
the Saints, and denouncing everybody who
would suggest disfranchisement.
The Phoenix Gdsette understands the
situation thoroughly and makes the anti
Mormon plank in the Republican platform
the subject of an editorial article which we
here reproduce. THE HERALD has no ap-
prehension that the efforts of the Repub-
licans to introduce the infamous test-oath
to the laws of our southern neighbor will
succeed. 1t was once there and was re-
pealed by the almost unanimous vote of
the legislative assembly. The Democrats
are reasonably certain of CARRYING the cleo
ton and choosing fair working majority of
the legislature hence good citizens will be
protected in their rights. The Gazette
voices the sentiment of the better class of
Arizona people in the following
The people Of Arizona cannot be hoodwinked
by any trumped up resolutions like carpet-bag-
ger MoRRIsoN's against the Mormons. If those
people are guilty of any crime against the laws
Vi tuC OOuhblys PiOoCSutC lUeTC Is to-day
on our statute books stringent law against
polygamy, and If the Mormons are transgres-
sors, why not prosecute them? This is the
business in a nutshell The Mormons don't vote
the Republican ticket and the unprincipied
political strikers, and seekers after ofces wish
TO disfranchise them. Wyoming has Mormon
population of 250O0 and large majority OF
them vote the Republican ticket We don't
hear any complaints from this source Why is
it that Arizona, with Mormon population OF
5000, is in need of a test oath = or
as the late defunct WoLFLEY calls
it, publication" bill = when Wyom-
ing, with a population of $1,000 Mormons, voting
the Republican ticket has no use for it, The
fact of the matter is, as before stated; a few
would-be Republican office hunters would dis
franchise 5000 American citizens-men who are
doing more to develop the latent resources OF
Arizona than any other like number of people
in the territory. They are Industrious honest
and intelligent, and their only fault is polit.
ical one. They refuse to vote the Republican
ticket as az unit. Gentlemen, this will no,
answer. Some better and more reasonable rea.
son must be brought forward before the people
of Arizona will submit to such an infamy AS
long as the Mormon population conform to the
the laws OF the territory, pay their taxes, and
obey the courts, just so long they are entitled
to the same consideration as any other relig.
ions sect