Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-04-26
mormon" VOTES IN IDAHO.

A number Of Idaho papers are much
stirred up over the aut-"Mormon" Of.
forts OF the Boise Statesman. That pa.
per which has long been Republican
organ, appears to be in league with
prominent Democrats who have failed
to obtain enough Of the Mormon vote
as they call II to accomplish their pur.
poses, aud the effect OF the combination
seems likely TO divide the Republican
party IN that State TO the advantage
OF the opposite party, This naturally
arouscs the straight Republicans In
Idaho and Is OIL nsIye also to many
genuine Democrats. The utterances OF
Mr.. Calvin cobb OF the Statesman be-
fore the Senate committee on privilA gees
and elections, have served TO add fuel
to the flame against his paper lie is
thus reported
Counsel for the prosecution OK
amlned Cobb In relation to the influence
the Mormons are alleged to have at
tempted TO bring To bear for the reten-
ton OF Senator Sm0ot, This was shown.
said Cobb, by delegation of the Idaho
legislature which called upon W. Il.
Borah, candidate for the senate, asking
what would be his attitude as senator il
the case of Senator Smoot should come
up,
Counsel for the defense opposed the
introduction OF this testimony on the
ground that what BOrah told cobb was
incompetent Mr. Taylcr explained that
he wanted to show that Borah declined
to commit himself I'm regard to Smoot
and ON that account was not elected to
the senate"
The Ogden Standard, referring to this
testimony adds;
Cobb claimed that Hepburn gave
the required promises and received the
vote Of the Mormon Republicans In the
legislature and was elected while W T..
Borah refused 10 make any promises
and was not elected, The effort OF Cobb
was apparently TO make II appear that
Hepburn was elected at the dictaEon
OF the Mormon Church authorities"
These assertions have provoked much
unfayorblo comment from newspapers
OF both parties In Idaho, ana Mr.. Cobb
has caused considerable excitement,
though not In Mormon circles, Our
people have been accustomed to so
much Misrepresentation that Cobbs
examinations count for very little to
them. The facts In the Senatorial cleo
ton case do not appear to have been
brought out IN the examination before
the committee That body has listened
TO a great deal Of hearsay talk
on the ,ubjoct Of the "Mor-
NOM Church and politics, but
It has so far amounted TO little more,
on the Idaho part of Il the Pocatello
Tribune makes this succinct and ire
futablc statement showing that the bit
Of testimony referred b.. '-.her over.
shot tho mark
"Thore were eleven Mormon mem.
bers I'm the last legislature who were
Republicans on the final ballot In the
caucus which nominated Senator Hey
burn, four Momous voted Tor Hepburn
and seven Mormous for Boruh,
"Thls does not seem 20 indicate that
Mr.. Borah was not satisfactory 10 the
Mormon people
1.-THE Mormuns who voted for Hey
burn were Hunt and Jensen Of Ban
mock, and Clark ana kcoch Of Bear
Lake.
"The Mormons who voted for Rorah
were Day OF Cassia Heath and Moore
Of Fremont owens ana Steel OF BiUg-
ham and Preston and McNeol Of
Oneida
That ought to be sufficient for nm
biased people to satisfy them that
the stories told by Cobb and the cou-
tlnual prctensos of his paper are baso-
less and absurd
The utmost that has been adluced in
the way Of evidence of Mormon i'm
nuence in Idaho politics Is the activity
OF some prominent "Mounons' at cleo
ton times This IS admitted, But 10
has been IN c3iloucc ON both sides VI
the contest. And why should a yigor-
Gus politician be barred from taking
part in public affairs because he is a
Mormon" And why should the COM
cluson be jumped n. that he is under
instructions from his Church no matter
which party no belongs 20 or which
candidates ne flyor' The Iocatollo
Tribune makes these sensible remarks