Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-02-24
{" THE MoRmoNs.n

The Boston Herald has devoted con-
siderable space TO the Mormon"
question brought once more 10 the
surface by the election Of Hon. Reed
smoot to the United States Senate Its
latest editorial utterance on the sub
ject Is as follows
THE debate in the United States
Senate on the omnibus statehood bill
has lately turned upon the influence
Of the Mormons. In the section Of the
country whore they exist In any con-
siderable numbers, upon political az
fairs. II is not probable that there Is
serious apprehension Of this influence
In the proposed new states; the number
Of Mormons is small there, and II is not
expected to increase. II IL rather In
furtherance OF the policy Of delay
therefore, than for more Important
reason that this subject has been pro-
truded into the dlscusson yet 1t has
had its yalue--perhaps not lntended-in
the light that has been thrown through
It's agency on the Mormon situation.
THE senators who have chiefly FUR
nished information upon the subject
are Dubois OF Idaho. Rawllns Of Utah
and Teller Of Colorado. IL does not
appear that there are any considerable
number OF Mormons In Colorado, but
Mr. Tellers knowledge OF western peo-
pie extends beyond his own state. The
testimony that he bears TO the Mormon
character Is to our mind, the strangest
that the debate developed, He not only
certihes to the general good character
OF this people, but he pays a tribute 70
the intelligence he found among them.
They are we'll educated, he says; IN
deed. they have their scholars. He cites
an instance Of student IN one branch
OF scholarship there who, he believes,
has not his equal In the world in |
learned attachments In the speciality to |
which he has devoted his attention |
Mr.. Teller does not explain, and 1t |
seems impossible for any one 20 eX- |
plain. how men of this mentality can |
give adhesion to the tenets OF the |
Mormon Church, but II would appear |
that that apparent anomaly does exist. |
"The testimony that came from all |
three OF the senators above named |
was 10 the effect that the Mormons |
are by native tendency and disposition |
good citizens. Senator Dubois said his
home was In that part Of his state
where they have chiefly settled, and I
that he had found them so. II Is In
southern Idaho that the Mormons are
principally concentrated When Idaho
first passed out Of the territorial condi-
ton into statehood polygamy was In
existence in the Mormon Church. For
that reason the Mormon citizens OF
Idaho were disfranchlsed, but after the
Church abolished polygamy, as II did
In compliance with the Edmunds law OF
the United States this disability was
and the Idaho Mormons have
since shared citizenship with the rest
OF the inhabitants.
"The most intimate testimony as re-
CARDS the present influence OF the Nor
mon Church In politics came from Sen.
ator Rawlins. He living In Utah ana
having recently been defeated for re-
election 10 the Senate by the Mormon
Church. might be expected. perhaps, TO
be bitter toward Il; but he showed no
such feeling. lie did declare under
that the Church had un-
dertaken TO interfere In politics TO the
extent OF controlling the action OF its
members IN engaging In contests Tor
office as themselves candidates, lie
cited Instances IN which Mormons had
accented nominations for election, and
the Church had lnterfered directing
them to withdraw from the field, They
had declined, and as the result Of this
refusal their candidacy was tabooed by
the church, and they were defeated.
The Church also sometimes has It's pro-
eyes whom Il supports-possibly whom
il directs 10 run--but the M0rmons are
not united In sustaining IT, either in
or opposing men for ONCE
The younger Mormons are disposed TO |
discourage such action on the part of
the Church authorities, and OF neces-
slty the younger element there is con-
stanty growing.
The Mormon vote can always control
In Utah 1t apparently doesn't always
deem II expedlent to exercise its power
but In the case OF Reed Smoot, just
elected senator from the state, It seems
10 have done so. This was apparently
brought about by the ambition Of smoot
himself. rather than as a project Of the
Church. And this leads US to
note another statement made by Mr..
Rawllns, II is that the Mormons, as
4 rule are not politicians. The bulk Of
them are quiet. simple, inoffenslve,
Industrious people. Neither II there a
native tendency on the part Of their
Church officials toward politics. Their
concern Is in other directions.
II the politicians would let the Mormon
'hurch alone, Il Is altogether probable
hat the Mormon Church would let pol
tics alone. II Il has any aspiration IN
that direction, II is to be In with the
party in power In order that II may be
safe against adverse legislation from
he general government Judging from
he debate we are considering, II is not
/ threatening affair In our nation It's
numbers are small in the newly pro-
posed states-l3OO In New Mexico and
800 In Arizona. They are larger In
Idaho-1i, 972--whioh still has not been
affected by It's Mormon population. In
Utah they are much greater, being 49,
,0l but even here we find no evil ef-
fects developed from their presence for
which they are directly responsible"
Thawlng the pipes is no substitute for
boiling the water