The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-08-20
rIckEr ANn PLArFoRaI.

That the democratic state COnven-
tiou acted wisely aud we'll in the
selection of its candidates for office
at Lewiston aud in the drafting OF its
platform, taking high moral grounds
on the Mormon question, Is general.
Iy admitted, even by republicans
themselves. The ticket Is headed by
that popular aud incorruptlble farmer
aud business man, Hon. Henry Heit-
field, who stands for a principle
rather than success. This we'll
known trait Of character was demon
strated when the light for the anti
Mormon resolution seemed to have
met With defeat and the Mormon sap
porters we're in the majority in the
convention IL was then that the
Mormon contingent attempted to
elineh their temporary victory by
going to honest Henry Heitfeld aud
offering him their united support for
the guberHatorial nomination. ~ He
refused it at their hands and the
writer heard him tell one Of them
that he could not accept the nomin-
alton without the anti Mormon plank !;
that be believed the evils OF polygamy
and church domination in the poll
ties of Idaho to be- dangerous to our
political liberty and that he
always stood for the right prin-
ciple. With such man at the head
Of the ticket it is unusually strong.
The other nominees are men Of we'll
known eharacttr aud high standing
in their respective communities.
They come FROM the various sections
Of the state aud geographically leak-
ing, the distribution Is admirable,
the counties Of Idaho, Shosbune,
Bingham, Bauuock, Nez Perce, Wash
ingtou, LemHi, Ada and Blaine hav-
ing representation
The platform is a clean cut declara-
ti0n Of principles rather than cheap
effort at vote getting. The fight for
the anti-MoFmon, or plank opposing
polygamy and church interference in
affairs OF state. vas the chief feature
Of the convention. The fight OF
Seuator Dubois in the senate against
the seating Of Senator Smoot aud the
action Of the Mormon church authori-
ties in UNFOLDING polygamy aud big
amy have made the question an issue
10 this state aud the democratic party,
in convention assembled, was big
enough and bold enough TO take up
the issue even ia the face Of the
threats from the delegates Of the
Mormon counties that il would cost
the party every Mormon vote. It Is
also a personal vindiesti0n aud en-
dorsensnt OF Senator Dubois aud his
policy IN the matter It does not
mean hght against the purely relia-
ious beliefs og the MOrmons any more
than II does against the Catholic CT
Protestant churches; but it Is
simply a declaration that the party
j. opposed TO certain immoral prac
tices of the Mormons and the inter
ference OF the high church officials at
Salt Lake in the political affairs Of
Idaho. Our republican friends we're
afraid to take a stand on the issue
aud lodged IT, On the question OF
the Judiciary Of the state aud the
offices Of state and county school
superintendent, the democratic plat
form towers once mors above the
plane Of politics and demands that
these offices be put out of the whirl-
pool Of politics by the election of
such officers Ut date other than that
for the general elections. The eight
hour Law for miners working under
ground il endorsed and the platform
fayors the enactment of a law that
will result ia tho interest on public
funds deposited in banks going into
the treasury rather than into the
pockets Of the treasurer. The two
mile limit law. which affects the
people Of the southern portion Of the
state more particularly, is endorsed
in no certain language aud there are
a number Of other good features in
the platform that will appeal TO the
intelligence, the moral sensibililies
and the good Judgment of the voter
Some Of the leading democrats of
Tie state predict defeat for the ticket
because the party took hold OF the
polygamols evil rsther than mot
mentioning 1t for party policy" as
they put it; but we fail to see the
logic OF this argument aud believe
that the platform Ia stronger and the
party is in better con Iition for a
political battle than 1t would have
been by ignoring the question. IL l.
Que that must be met, II not in this
campaign, then Ia the next, and The
democrats having already placed
themselves on record our republican
friends must get into liue or say that