Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-24

ing a sufficient number of delegates to
change their votes and the Mormon plank
was restored to the platform by a slender
majority. 1t was, however. a severe shock
to the party. More than half of the can
didates who had been placed on the state
ticket few hours before declined their
nominations, because they were convinced
that Mormon influences would prevent
their election. Ex-senator Heitfeld, one
OF the richest and most popular men in
the state. who lives up in the mining
country and has supply stores in a dozen
different towns, accepted the nomination
for governor and proposes to make fight
on the anti-Mormon platform with Du-
bois in charge of the campaign. The state
committee has filed the vacant places on
the ticket, but several gentlemen who
have hitherto had influence in the party
have refused to follow Dubois in his war
upon the church. 1t is therefore under
stood on both sides that the Mormon is
sue is to be fought to q finish in the pres
ent campaign. and that, if the democrats
secure control of the Legislature the test
oath and the law prohibiting Mormons
from voting will be revived.
The republican convention practically
ignored the issue. 1t refused to renomi-
nate MIR. Morrison, the present governor,
who Is strongly anti-Mormon. and placed
al the head of the ticket Frank r. Good
ing, one of the largest sheep rancherS in
the country. who has always been friendly
to the church and resides in a large Nor
mon community. Mr.. Gooding is a typical
western man. Born on the plains, reared
in the sage brush, educated in log
schoolhouse. he is the embodiment of the
genius of the west. While deficient in
book learning. he has the reputation of
possessing more than the ordinary
amount of natural ability and common
sense, and personally is as popular as his
democratic opponent. He is sure to COM
mand the solid support of the Mormon
population. but will be opposed by an
other important element which is grow
strength
make itself felt in campaign.
The Support of the Sheep Men.
The increase of the population of Idaho
and the development of its agricultural in
terests by the Introduction of irrigation
systems have caused an active hostility be-
tween the farmers and the sheep herdcrs
which has become an issue in politics. All
of the vacant government lands in the
state have for years been used by the sheep
men for pasturing, and they have resented
their purchase and settlement advantageous
as an invasion of their personal rights The
legislature recently passed what is known
as the two-mile law" forbdding any
sheep herder to bring his flocks within two
miles of residence. The sheep men have
organized an association for seIf-defense
and have been fighting the law strenuously
Ihey refuse to obey it and carry every
case of conviction to an upper court fke
constltutlonaIty of the law is now before
tHe oupfe court OF the United States,
and If the decision is in favor of the farm
ers the sheep men propose to have the law
repealed. They are limited in numbers
compared with the farmers. but are the
richest men in the state and do not hest
tate to spend money freely in support of
their cause. Mr.. Gooding the republican
candidate for governor, as 1 told you. is
one OF the richest sheep men in the state
and has been the most active and deter
mined hshter on that side of the issue THE
hOTInOnS, VINO are mostly farmers and
ought, naturally, to be on that side. VIII
support Gooding because of the democratic
policy and platform. in obedience to in
strucuons from their elders and the issue
VIII be decided by the mining poDuIa ton in
the northern end of the state
ms complication of issues as you see.
makes rather dramatic situation in Idaho
Win several side issues involving railway
rates and taxation. the disposition of nm
per and school lands, mining regulations
elght-hOur laws and prohibition -