Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-10-28
JOHN NJ. AS A STRADDLBR.
HIS Record HMa Present Prctenses
Dun't a gree.

MIS- Record SMd Present Prctenses
Don't Agree.
John M. Burke is a rn>rler--for
votes-and can straddIe more issues
than any other man in the State Of
Idaho. John is everything in general
and nothing in particular in regard to
matters that interest the voters Of
Idaho. Lately he has been posing a.
the especial friend Of the Mormons,
proving bis position by statement
from the stand in the Mormon conn-
ties that his wife is related to high
Mormon dlgnitary. There is nothing
wrong about that, Is his wife can be
thus related and At the same time be
. most estimable lady, Is there are
as good, well-meaning people among
the Mormons as among members Of
other religious denominations. One
naturally asks, what motive induced
John NJ. to make that statement?
With little deliberation the answer
will involuntariIy be Forthcoming, and
will be this, simply this, and moth
ing more: "Votes," for that is what
candidates-'most all of them are
batting their hooks for, and that is all
right II the candidates are consistent,
and advocate principles they actually
believe in, endeavor to convince the
voters that those principles are right,
and thus win them over. But this
doesn't seem to be the Unborn charac-
teristic Of John NJ. Another question
the voter naturally asks is: "Why
should John M. throw out bait for
the Mormon vote, when the Mormons
are disfranchised?" Well, the reason
for that is that John NJ. firmly be-
lieved the anti Mormon law enacted
by the last Legislature would be de-
clared unconstitutional. He was a
little too previous. The decision OF
the Supreme Court was the reverse.
While the law is unjust, in our opin-
ion, considering the present status ol
the Mormon Church, il is constitu-
tional, and will be in force until re-
pealed by the same power that enact
ed it. John NJ. figured that it would
be knocked out in the first round BY
the Supreme Court of Idaho, and il
this particular he proved not to be Z
genuine, inspired prophet. John NJ
was a lover of Mormons and Nor
monism when he pranced up anc
down the land OF the Saints, recently
and this would have seemed all rlgh
ON its face had he not pre-. iously
placed himself on record, and yer,
emphatically. When he saw tha
the Mormons were not a factor il
politics, and it looked as if it woult
be long time before they would be
and he therefore had no hopes of he
ing boosted into Office by their votes
he was not their friend. The follow
ing extract from the House journa
of the l4th session OF the Idaho Leg
islature explains John Ms position
and the difference in attitude is ex
planned by the fact that this fall h
figured on the Mormons being re
clothed with the franchise in time t
vote at the coming election;
"Mr. E. S. Burnett of Altura
county offered the following resolr
, ton: I'VE, the undersigned, tn
: Democratic delegation, composin
part of the representative branch {
the 1+th session of the Legislature {
the Territory of Idaho, do hereby d,
clare, and desire that the same ma
be placed upon record, that we al
y uncompromIsingly opposed to tt
r system of Mormonism or to the ST
. called Church of Jesus Christ of La
ter Day Saints. And while we at
vocate the principles of the DEM
: cratic party, we want it at the san
d time to be understood in this asser
Y bly, that we are anti Mormon DEM
:, Gratis in the fullest meaning of II
!, word; that we are unalterably o.
II posed to the repeal of the test oa
: law passed at the 18th session.
: Mr.. Burke signed this resolutie
: among others and made the motto
is that adopted it.
J. G. Watts, Democratic candida
:. for the Senate, went down to Hors
shoe BeId last Wednesday to ia