Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1892-01-06
STATEHOOD AND moRMoNIsM

STATEHOOD AND MORMONIsM.
 A Washington special to the Chi cago Tribune says: Ut is claimed that there are to be two more stars added to the American ag,within a short time-Arizona and Oklahoma. This is said to be the result of a verbal understanding reached be- tween the leading Republicans and Democratic members of the two Houses, who have been interesting themselves in statehood matters since the present Congress convened. Just before the Democratic Sena- tors held their caucus to agree upon minority representation on Senate committees the Utah and New Mex leo boomers attempted to pack the Senate Committee on Territories with men who would favor State hood for those two Territories. It was said the matter was then men- toned to President Harrison and it was learned that he would not favor it. He believed Utah had not long enough enjoyed freedom from po- lygamy, while New Mexico had not a sufficiently large American citi- zenship. So a combination was made between Arizona and Okla homa. and it is stated that not only all the leading Republicans and Democrats have expressed approval but also President Harrison. There are some doubtful features about the story, however. If Arizona is admitted New Mexico is sure to fol- low. Mormon leaders are playing 'possum and saying they don't look for Utah to be admitted by this Congress because of the Gentle prejudice which refuses to credit them with sincerity in giving up polygamy. Yet they are really
 hopeful that a deal can be made
 which will give the saints State of their own."
 It matters little to the Mormons whether Utah is admitted or not, provided by any 'hook or crook"
 they can secure the admission of Arizona. The Mormon church con-
 trolled the constitutional conven- tion which framed the constitution for Arizona, and by its influence the test oath was omitted from the body
 of the instrument. Not only this,
 but so absolute was the control of
 Mormonism over the majority in the convention that they refused to sub
 init the question of a test oath as a
 separate proposition. The Nor
 mons hold the balance of power in
 the territory, and a man who aspires to any official position in the terri tory does not dare say that his soul
 is his own except by the consent of the Mormon bishops. This fact was forcibly illustrated during the campaign of 1890, when Mark Smith had a democratic meeting opened by prayer by Mormon bishop, and when he told them that he had in troduced the Mormon prayer book into Congress. Not only is this the Case in regard to an office to be voted oI by the entire territory, but in three or four of the counties they absolutely control the political situ- ation. The admission of Arizona, under the present constitution, which, with all its other defects, failed to provide the safeguard of a test oath, means that the State of Arizona will become a Mormon hierarchy. Arrangements, it is said, have already been completed, in the event of its admission, for the plant ing of colonies from Utah, in the future State of Arizona, and it would be no surprise if the head quarters of the church were removed from Utah here.
 Prominent Mormon bishops at tended during the session of the constitutional convention, lobbying in the interests of the church, and particularly against the test oath. Their labors were crowned with success before the convention, and they then continued them to secure the adoption of the constitution. The only thing now remaining to make them supremely happy is to have the cap sheafplaced upon their scheme to secure Mormon state, by securing the admission of Ari- zona as State. They do not hope for the admission of Utah, and while that, of course, would be their first choice, their next fondest hope is to secure the admission of Arizona, where they will be able to control the policy of the future State as absolutely as they would that of Utah. If Congress wants to set up | a Mormon hierarchy in the union of l States, to plant a mormon star on the flag of our country, they can not do it easier than by the adinis- sion of Arizona under the Constitu- tion recently framed at the dicta- tion of its bishops. If they want to admit new State, entirely untram- eled, and unfettered by Mormonism, they should pass an enabling act and instruct Arizona to form a con stitution provided with better safe guards than the present one pos sesses.
 Garza is making things quite in teresting down along the Texas bor- der Ha Startol o,.x