The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-06-23
PLAY POLITICS
WITH THE CHURCH
Belief That Republican Leaders
Need Mormon Vote.
VIEWS OF DR.. ". Nj. PADEN
PRESBYTERIAN DIVINE DIS
CUssEs CHICAGO PLATFORM

The Republican leaders in Chicago
are laying themselves open 10 the
suspicion that they are playing poll
tics with the Mormon church 10 secure
its influence in Utah, Idaho and WyU-
ming by not inserting an anti poly
gamy plank in their platform. So DT.
William NJ Paden views the situation
at this distance. lie thinks the Re
DuDlicanS made a mistake in permitting
Senator SmoOt to 90 to Chicago ana
Work against such a plank, saying:
II the MOTmOns are guch abid-
ING citizens why is it they are OLpUs-
ing such a plank2 If they are sincere
1 should imagine &c would be JUS what
lhey want. The objection of senator
SmooI 10 the plank tents 20 the be-
ueI that he faVors sucT practices. I
think il is the worst thing the senator
could DO, TO work against H. His op-
Of 1t"
Discussing the matter fur.hsr Dr.
Padeu said:
Il did not expect the Smoot case to be
discussed, but the polygamy and polyg-
amous living plank. If were writing
ttle 4yen0cratic or Republican platform i
Ho4iI not aliQde 20 Senator SmOot. il is
.ot the INDIVIDUAL we are lighting, but
me two pOiygamOus questions. Z would
strike at church domination poIvgsuav
ana polygamous living.
1Ou know as well as do that there
is very little difference today between the
pilil-lples or The two great parties. There
cannot pe much difference between their
Two platforms this fall Therefore st is
campaign speakers of one Side or the
othef VIII have 60 lay stress
~ suppose the Republicans DO not insert
5.il anu -pOlygdfny ana anti-polygamOus
living plank. bat the Democrats do. That
VIII give the Democrats a little thing
upon which 20 base their campaign this
q q o. NH r|ara nrsE- nr-Hr
H. That they might take il up is not be-
yond possibility.
Much Feeling in East.
The feeling in the east over the ques-
llon OF polygamy in any form IS quite
Keen, ~ the Republicans ignore the maj
yer there are thousands Of voters who
VIII conceive the idea that the Repub-
ieans. are playing politics with the
church to gain the electoral votes of Utah
Wyoming and Idaho
such a sentiment is certain to cause q
detection in the Republican ranks. Take
indiana for instance. tt IS regarded as a
close state. Suppose the dissatisfaction
becomes so great IA that state as to cause
me defeat OF the Republican party in
November Tho same question might
nave similar effect in Wisconsin, where
the Republicans are split ia two. To is
likewise possible that the number of dis
gruntted Republicans in Illinois would
throw that state into the Democratic col
umn.
"A few changes like that and MT
Roosevelt Is lost. It will take but a few
thousand votes in any of the states I
have just mentioned. under existing con-
dltiOus. TO make ID Democratic And the
political complexion would be changed
through very little thing. It IS these
small things iH a campaign void of big
issues which make or defeat candidate
who IS in position al this time to
deny that IF the Republicans ignore tho
polygamy natter and Che Democrats take
it up ana use III, that the cry that the e.
d. D, Is fiirting with the Mormon church
may not defeat Mr. Roosevelt There
are MANY good men iu Chicago fighting
for the plank. III it is not inserted and
the party sees its mistake later they viii
have DO excuse. for they acted with their
cEES VIC oven.