The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-10-15

parties is needed and as the object
sought to be attained is the eradica-
ito nof an evil which strikes at the
foundation of republican institutions
the boast of the nation, all parties
car join forces with the council and
give it their earnest and loyal support.
The council seeks to make the issue
clear so that all may understand and
believes that it will have the aid and
assistance of all good people, regard
less of political or religious views
In a leaflet which the council sends
out it is said "We need the support
of all parties in this fight In order
to secure the submission of a consti-
%tutional amendment we must have the
affirmative vote of two-thirds of both
houses of congress; and then to make
it effective it must be ratified by the
legislatures of three-fourths of the
states. In view Of the fact that the
Mormons already have the balance of
power in several states, we shall need
the support of almost all the other
states, and we have no time to lose.
If we delay matters the Mormons will
soon secure the balance of power in
enough additional states to enable
them forever after to prevent ratifi-
cation of an anti-polygamy amend
ment."
1t may strike some people that the
women of the council are unnecessar-
lily alarmed at the spread of the vot-
ing power Of the Mormon church, but
a little study and research will speed
lily convince anyone that they are not
e~xagerating the matter in the slight
est. The time has passed when the
power of the church founded by JOS
eph Smith and perfected by Brigham
Young was confined to the limits OF
territorial area represented by Utah.
In recent years there has been a large
and ever expanding emigration of Nor
Al1oLo I1OL1 jail dAu at pISSC1lL 1lOt
a state can be named in the west end
particularly in the northwest which
does not contain one or more colonies
of saints" or else a large scattered
population which seeks it's religious
and much of its political inspiration
from the me at Salt Lake who pre-
tend to rule by direct command of
God and whoNclaim to be in personal
and immediate communication with
the Deity.
The Church Of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints" is nothing if not
a militant church It's missionaries
are scattered over the entire world
and it's field OF operations is not con
fined to any class or nation of peo-
pie. Civilized, barbarian and savage
people are labored with and the hun
dreds of jealous fanaical men and wo-
men whom it has laboring to advance
its aus and spread it's doctrines are
never idle, but the work of PROSECUTING
goes on always and at all times. I'm
like other missionaries those of the
church of Mormon do not confine their
efforts to the heather and infidels,
but invade the very ranks of Christ
ian churches and by their arguments
and appeals endeavor tt bring all peo-
pie to their way of thinking and lead
them to embrace the faith which they
are preaching. That they are more
successful than should be or the faith
which they are spreading deserves is
manifest by the many converts which
they are daily making in foreign coun-
tries, as well as in our own.
While the Mormon church may no
longer openly preach and advocate
polygamy, it is well known to all peo-
pie who live in and contiguous to
the territory in which it has it's strong
hold that in secret its leaders not only
countenance but practice plural mar
riages, and that despite all the avow-
ais to the contrary which so frequent
~ ind their way into publicity. The
admission last winter by the Mormon
governor, who vetoed the bill legaliz-
ing a certain form of polygamy which
the legislature had passed, that he
sympathized with those who advo-
Gated it showed how strongly engraft-
ed still are the teachings of Smith
and Young and that it was only to
prevent what the Interdenominational
Council is now seeking to bring about
that the veto power was exercised.
Any person caring to assist the
council, by the payment of SIS to the
treasurer, Mrs. F. c. Morgan, 947
Lexington avenue, New York. will be
enrolled as a sustaining member, while
the payment of one dollar or less than
five will entitle the donor to enroll