The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-11-25
MORMON CHURCH NPOuITICS
DEFEATED AFTER so YEARS
Mig Religious Political Machine Receives
a Hard Blow-Rsed Smoot Takes
Hand-sehatOr Kearns i a Fighter
Younger MOFmoRs Assist.

Salt Lake City, Utah, Nov. 20. =
After one of the bitterest political
fights ever waged in any community,
the Mormon church has sufi cred its
first decisive defeat in almost so years
of political supremacy. At last week q
election the American party candi-
date, Ezra Thompson, was elected
mayor Of the city by good majority,
defeating William j. Lynch, the
Mormon chIuch's republican candi
date. Gentiles believe they see in
the victory a decline of the Mormon
church's power and the settlement Of
one of the gravest problems that has
ever confronted a state.
Because Of its effect upon the pos
sible expulsion Of Reed Smoot from
the senate at the coming session Of
congress, the election just passed has
assumed national Importance. Smoot
strained every power at his command
to force the election of Lynch, en-
gagged in a nasty squabble with the
democratic leaders, and there has
been a serious split in the ranks of
the church officials Smoot demand
ed the election Of Lynch in order to
vindicate himself in the eyes Of the
people and to preserve his prestige in
the republican party.
The man Of the hour in Utah is ex-
Senator Thomas kearus, who organ
lied the American party, and to whom
the credit for the victory is due. Mr..
Kearus, a popular citizen during bis
years of residence in the state, has
become a hero.
Ii biblical simile may be applied
to so mundane a thing as a political
fRht. Utah regards the former seua-
tor as q Moses, who has delivered the
people from a bondage 10 which they
have been held for years By the her
archy. He has led the Gentiles to
their first real victory after long
succession OF discouraging defeats.
He Il the Ouy man who has succeeded
in fighting the most powerful relig-
icus organization ia the world TO a
standstill 10 a community where al
tag uism to the church usually means
social ostracism and financial ruin.
I be story OF Senator Kearn's great
fight and victory Is an interesting
one. 1t brings out we'll the resource
fulnass OF the man himself; his de
termination aud unloading will. The
same qualities which made kearus
one Of the richest men in the country
and enabled him to rise from the
position o! a poor plowbU to a seat
in tie senate we're the factors that
figured in the defeat OF the church.
The Mormon church, fouded by
the Prophet Smith and organized uy
Brigham fuOuR. Is without doubt one
Of the most wonderful organizations
In the world. President Joseph r.
Smith holds the votes Of his people
in the hollow of his hand.
A perfect system Of stakes, or dis
tricts. each with its own president.
aud a further Division Of these stakes
enable the president 10 keep directly
in touch with every member Of the
organization. Iu Salt Lake there
are TIVE Myromn 'teachersf COR every
block. They answer 10 church officers
little higher up, who, Ia turn, are
responsible to the apostles. The
apostles then report direct to Pre.i-
dent Smith.
In the past 1t ha- besH possible for
thu president to throw an sletiop
within six hours before the polls are
opened, s1 perfect is the Working IF
this system. Instructions are gsuer.
ally given out at the Sunday meetings
proceeding election, and If the ure-i-
dent changes his mind be calls in his
apostles, and within a few hours the
orders have been countermanded and
every voter instructed
Up to the present campaign it was
understood as patent fact that Pres.
ideut Smith could elect any man he
desired for any office In the city.
county or state, and that he could
force any Mormon candidate to with.
draw ct any time in favor of the man
he might want elected.
The Mormon church has secured