The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-04-23
KEEP TEST OATH IN IDAHO
SENATOR DUBOIS MAKES PLEA
warns Against MormOas says the Heir
archy At salt Lake Attempts ." IUhn-
enee Both Political Parties Mixes Re
IIgion and Politics.


public. 1t is addressed to the demo
cratic state central committee. 1t
follows;
''Gentlemen Agreeably to your
request, 1 gladly writs YOU my views
and judgment regarding the Mormon
controversy, and will endeavor to
euumerate the causes which have pro
duced the present situation, which
eonfronts Normons and Gentiles in
she United States generally, and in
Idaho particularly.
The contention was brought about
By the MormOns themselves, and for
ced upon non Mormons The hier
archy in Utah selected Apostle Smoot
as a candidate for the United States
senate and elected him, so that when
he was elected, and the protest was
Aled against his retaining his seat,
the senate was called upon to take a
position either for or against what he
stood for
The senate had nothing whatever
TO do with bringing about this con
tention. When it read the protest,
signed by Is representative citizens
Of Utah, an Investigation could not
be avoided. The church, by select
ing Apostle Smoot, involved the
organization in the greatest conflict
1t ever had. The privileges and
elections committee decided to enter
into thorough and rigid examine
ton, the object of which is to ascer-
tain the relation which the Mormon
church bears to the government
whether or not it is still countenauc-
ing polygamy, and exercises undue
control in political affairs. 1t has
dragged the president of the church,
and the majority OF the apostles, who
are polygamists, to Washington, and
the country IS becoming thoroughly
Informed as to the methods, teachings
and practices Of this organization.
1T is my Judgment, as [ gather
sentiment here among the senator's,
that after this Investigation is ended,
Mr.. Smoot will not be allowed to re-
tain his seat.
Another contention has been for
eed upon you, and upon the good
law abiding citizens Of Idaho, and
upon me as a citizen Of Idaho. | wish
to call your attention to it specihcal
ly, knowing that you will join with
me vigorously in protesting. John
Henry Smith, a polygamist apostle
from Utah, who is political apostle
OF the Mormon church, went to Boise
during the last session Of the legis.
lature, aud consulted leading repub
licans about the advisability Of cal
ling new constitutional convention
"neu pressed for his reasons. be said
the test oath in our constitution wa
humiliation and slur upon the
Mormon people, aud they wanted it
eliminated.
Several leading republicans told
me Of this, and said they strongly
avdlsed him against the attsmpt.
pointing out the contention which it
would raise in the state, and they
thought they had dissuaded him
Surreptitlously, however, afterwards
he had resolution for a constitu
tionai convention called by a member
In each house, and passed, without
the knowledge Of anyone EXCEPT
very Few members Of the legislature.
1t was never discussed at all. and il
was not known that such a resolution
had passed until considerable time
afterwards. and it il only very recent
ly that the people have Understood
that they must vote this coming fall
for or against that new constitutional
convention.
We have one Of the very beat
state constitutions in the United
States. The circumstances surround
Ing its construction aud adoption
we're these
e A. Stephenson vas the demo
cratic governor Of the territor7 Of
ihaho, and wa the republican
delegate 10 congress The zoyeruor
aud myself consulted freely and
frankly. aud he issued cali for (
constitutional convention. fixing the
aprortioumsut for each county I.
There va no election Of delegates In .
this cDu-titptiolal convention. bqt
they were selected ~ the various
county committees Of both parties.
agreeing a. b. who should be- the
delegates, extreme care being taken.
IN every county to sslact the fsire.t
and best men II both parties to 70
present each county in the cou.ti-
tutlonal convention No political
advantage vas sought by either party,
and when the constitutional convsu-
ton met, 1t was found that the two
parties were about equally repro-ent.
ed l think the republicans had few
majority. My recollection il that at
that time, during tho framing Of our
constitution, the convention did not