The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-11-12
TH[ WAT It WAS
DOWN. N UTAH STATE
5neeTins al Law, hoTnoR Officers
Invade The polling Places,

The Salt Lake Tribune gives a long
account of the ways of the Mormon
church in that state on election day.
One extract is sufficient to indicate
the hopeless character of the attempt
there to wrest control of the state
from the church. The Tribune says
In the Fifth ward things we're live
ly all day long. and in the famous
Fiftyseventh precinct the polls were a
storm center, with Mormon police
man and deputy sheriff who ranks
high as bishops counselor on hand
to keep strange semblance of order
This apparently consisted in showing
American party workers to one side of
the sidewalk, while those in the en-
ploy of the republican central COM
mittee were allowed the freest kind of
access to an overcrowded pollroom.
The ballotbox was surrounded dur
ing the entire afternoon and evening
by a seething mass of humanity.
Deputy Sheriff Andy Smith, whose
position in the Mormon church as
bishops counselor is we'll known, was
80 close to the ballot box that he was
in position to tell how each of the
faithful voted. Patrolman Smoot was
on the sidewalk. Smoot is a member
of the famous family by that name.
He did move back number of Amer
lean party workers to the extreme
edge of the curb, but beyond that his
energies did not seem to be actively
employed. 1t may be stated In JUS
tice to Mr.. Smoot that he WAS not
particularly aggressive at any time of
the day, and another fact may be
cited in his behalf. This is the adj
mission of another Second South pa
trolman that the force got no instruc-
tions from headquarters as to the
election laws.
AS matter of fact the laws on the
subject of non approach to the polls
got no enforcement, nor even observ-
ance. Neither ropes nor fences ex-
listed nor we're notices posted as re-
quired by law. On the contrary,
voters and heelers crowded as they
pleased, and the only exclusion prac-
ticed was directed against one or two
American party voters anxious to cast
their ballots.
81 don't know what the law is, -
said patrolman.
Weren't you told?" was asked.
t'No, l got no Instructions, and l
didn't hear any given out, - said he
Further inquiry developed the fact
that the day shift was told nothing of
what to do, at least as a shift Just
what some individuals were told to
do is not, of course, recorded. 1t is,
however, notorious fact that police
officers were busy through the Fifty
second all day, and every house on
Commercial street, whether for gambl-
ing or prostitution, was visited by
blue coats.
The jam at the polls was, however.
the most remarkable feature of the
day. Men women and republican
heelers jostled one another in the lit
tie room from noon till after evening.
and all the time the bishops counsel
or who wears deputy sheriff's star
kept close to the box to see that
those Of the faith voted according to
ecclesiastical orders.
During the morning Fred Morris. a
colored voter. was arrested by the
police. Morris has resided in the
Fifty second for more than q year.
according to his statement, and those
of men who know him we'll. He was
arrested on a remarkable pretense.
A week ago white crook was ar
rested by Patrolman Sperry. In this
crooks pocket was found a campaign
letter addressed to Fred Morris. At
the time Of the arrest the crook told
Detective Shannon in the presence of
number Of newspaper men that be
had gotten the letter, he thought, by
mistake. He said he had just come
into the city and thought the epistIe
was meant for some other party,
But because this crook got the Let.
ter which was Intended for Morris.
the lstter's vote was challenged aud
he himself was dragged 10 the city
Jsii Oh the preteDse that he was sp Ii. /
Legal yoter- DE was later released