The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-03-13
TIL e r e m e dy

in the Mormon question was not In po-
lygamy but in the Interference of the
Mormon church In politics, the Welser
World says.
Tho Payetto Independent takes fall out
Of tho state tTaducers who talking
about the ''polygamy issue" And now VIII
right direction and suggest remedy for the
menace referred to-
Though the wording Of the foregoing
might not lead one TO think go, 1t is
evident to any one who has watched
the Worlds course in regard to the
Mormon question that II thinks Vt has
this paper up a tree when 1t asks II to
suggest a remedy Its sclf-compla-
cenCy is obvious,
The World knows full We'll that there
Is Mormon question; that there ls
menace from the Interference OF the
Mormon church in politics; yet 1t has
no desire whatever for a remedy, de-
spite its utteranccs seemingly to the
contrary. Without attempting to deny
that there is n menace from the aCtivi-
ties of the Mormon church In politics
the World says by It's manner as plain
ly as il II had said 1t In words.
Yes there is a Mormon mensce-to those
who have nothing 10 gain by courtlng Nor
mon influence. Eut what do wc care about II
-wc Republicans. with majority OF thirty
or forty thousand In tho State more or less,
including. Of course. tho Mormon vote rs a
whole which we can easily hold Intact IL we
play the game right? Lot the Democrats howl
Mormon menace" NJ they get any comfort
out OF II, Secure in our control of all the
State Offices and all the State patronage we
can well afford TO Let tho Mornons hRvs
pretty bis hand in tho political pie II they
want TO- even NJ II ls contrary TO the prircl-
pies on which republican goyeinment ~
founded. Its simply matter ot playing poll
bGT T"a us who snnd S S1 With IN ,Ro Morrons Go
cont cnro II II does hurt those who don't
stond II, and as for tho effect II Will have on
posterity-well posterIty Will have 10 tako
care OF Itself
If the Independent has misjudged the
World; if II is sincere and really wants
light on this question of Mormon inter
ference In politics-a question that Is
far from easy of Solution-lt Will read
lily admit that certain statements In re-
gard to the Mormon question are facts.
now patent to all and incontrovcrtible.
II Will admit.
That years ago. before there was any
talk OF q Mormon Issue In the politics
of this State, It was generally known
that the Mormons voted as unit. but
that no great amount of attention was
paid to It at the time as IL was thought
they simply Gid so through clannish
ness of spirit and not from any desire
TO control the politics OF the State;
That as time progressed designing
parties and then OF the other secured
the aid Of the Mormon vote by trading
for 1T some special privilege. coveted by
the church leaders for their numerous
business enterprises, or protection for
their Illegal practices:
That with each succeeding year the
Mormons grew stronger, Welded a big
ger influence and exchanged this innu-
ence for more important favors;
m hnp ~ no In
campaign so big had this influence be-
come that a large faction OF both
parties We're ready to sacrifice nearly
anything for 1t. but that big as 1t was
there wasn't enough for both. and the
Republicans got 1t, while the Demo-
Gratis practically went to pieces because
OF an attempt OF the Mormon-loving
or, more properly, demonstrating ele-
ment Of their party to avoid antagoniz-
Ing this Mormon influence;
That the Republican party pledged
itself to secure such legislation as
would effectually prohibit all illegal
Mormon practices and set at rest all
cries Of Mormon dominance OF the
partys policies;
That every Republican writer and
speaker in the State declared either
that there was no illegal Mormon prac-
tices or Mormon menace, or that II
there was the Republican party was
big enough and honest enough to han
die such evils and would do SO,
That when the Legislature did meet
it was apparent from the very outset 1t
did not intend to keep the pledges made
by the party IL represented. and that
kept such pledges.
That such So-celled anti~Mornon leg
islatlon as was enacted was a farce SO
far as it showed the intention OF the
Legislature to deal with the Mormon
question honestly, and that every hon
est Republican I'm the Legislature and
every honest Republican In the State
realized that it was a farce.
All these things, the Independent re-
peats. the World knows and will &dmlt
If II honestly wishes TO see a remedy
provided for the Mormon menace,
And as to that remedy. Truly, the
World must have felt we'll satisfied
with itself when 1t asked the Indcpend-
ent to suggest one. 1t knows that the
menace threatening our State institu-
tions because of the interference of the
Mormon church In politics is one OF the
most insldious and intangible dangers
that ever threatened a people-insidi-
Gus because II is ever at Its deSpicable
work of gaining moro power through
the ambitions of the brightest men Of
the State; intangible because there is
10 ItRlSldllOD llldt tDSOlultly put
a stop to It.
Yet the Independent Will venture to
express It's belief that there Is remedy
and that this remedy is public opinion.
Every loyal Republican who has the
welfare of his party at heart should
decry the action of the last session of
the Legislature in regard TO the Nor
mon question. The people of the state
OF Idaho should be made to know that
the rank and file of the Republican
party does not countenance broken
pledges, Every Republican leader
should be made to know that to court
Mormon Influence means his political
death Men like the editor OF the Wei
ser World, young, ambitious and able
should be made to know that If they
expect to rise to prominence In their
State they cannot hope to do so In the
future by trucking to the Mormon
vote. The Mormon hierarchy should
be made to know that It's despotic hand
can no longer control the sovereign
State of Idaho and that hereafter the
leaders of the Mormon church shall en-
Joy no privileges, nor be permitted to
indulge I'm any practices that are not