Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-06-30
ABOUT THE MORMON VOTE

An idaho paper. taking up The Ques-
lion Of mormon influence u that
State. views 70 So q rational light This
paragraph from its editorial columns
s. worthy Of some notice. It Is a nom
Mormon paper. published at caldwell
and called the Tribune. it says
"The Mormons do exercise au in0l-
ence On politics. and % rs right mar
thew should. Unless We argue mat me
Influence ~ church people is generally
bad. we must admit mat their lHHl-
ence IS good in politics
No one. unless with a mind twisted
and warped by anu-"Normou' pre-
judlcc. would ind any fault with that
paragraph. taken in ihr light ~ its
evident meaning. Vet some hyper
critical directors have en1eayored TO
Interpret Il ln such a way as TO con-
vey an endorsement NJ the exercise or
religious influence in politics What
the Caldwell paper clearly intended to
dofepd was the right Of citizens who
aH "Mormons" a. have equal priyil'
No. with members n other churches
. IN political matters There was no e.
FORT 10 contend that either Nor
mons" or Methodlsts. or catholics or
Eplscopalians should combine 10 use
ecclesiastical power at the polls or In
political assemblies
The trouble with some ~ The oppon-
onfs NJ the mormon" people 90 This
question ls. that they wish 90 rule
members ~ the Mormon" Church on-
tlrely out 81 the sphere NJ practical
citizenship. They cannot control their
votes and So they would dlsfruchise
them People talk about the German
vote the Scandinavian vote. the lrish-
American vote ana the votes ~ people
or different nationalitles and societies,
aud though the terms used are not eN-
actly proper. they pass current without
raising any particular commotiou.
Those factions are sought for by poll
ticlans and sometimes there Is consid-
cradle strife among them to gain NE
influence they coyet
Properly speaking there is no such
Thing as the Mormon vote because
Mormon" citizens are divided as 10
their political views and affiliations.
and join such parties as they choose
or stay out ~ them altogether The fact
that they are Laiter-day Saints and
commonly called "Mormous" should
have nothing to DO with their politi-
cal rights and privileges Hostil-
ny towards Them originates with those
professional politicians who. imaeIn-
ing that they can be controlled by some
leading ccclesiastics. have made over
tures in that direction and have utter
~ failed. Then has arisen that bitter
ness and malice and falsldcatlon which
can be seen in their diatribcs from the
platform and through the press Tho
most vehement denunciatIous Of Nor
mon" influence iu politics. come from
disappointed wire-workers who have
vainly sought TO obtain the influence
that they denou rc.
Every Mormon iu Idaho or rtah
or other States OF tho Union. has the
same rights Of citizenship as belong TO
leyotees Of any religious faith or those
Mo have no creed AZ an so less ana
no more They should nor b. deferred
from exercising the full rights OF clti-
zens by any Of the cries that are raised
about "Church Influence" in politics.
LIT their opponents yociferatc as they
please They should pursue whatever
course they believe Co be right as free-
men and stand for 10 firmly. defending
their own liberties perfectly indlher-
nt 10 the clamor that is raised 90
brighten them from the field.
n they choose to combine against %
public enemy they have o. perfect light
20 do &C. n they choose TO divide on
partisan or personal grounds tha, also
b. their undoubted privilege They
should not be svayed by anything that
may be- urged as 20 their religion. They
act. not as members Of a church. but
as citizens ~ "a nation, the greatest
on the earth. what matters o. b.
blatant shouiers for a candidate or
cause proclaim That they are controlled
by a church or ts leaders They
know better themselves. and they need
not give any heed 20 such empty and
silly sounds.
There is uo such thing .n Idaho or
elsewhere nationally speaking as the
Mormon vote any more than there
is "a Methodist vote or Presbyterian
vote. But every member OF the Nor
mon Church who Us "a citizen of the
United states should use the elective
franchise as conscience dictates with
q view TO the welfare OF the state in
which be lives. and 90 bis own protec-
ton IN TIE exercise OF ihe tuu rights
~ American citizenship. Friends
don't be disturbed hy tho hootrg "
owls. either BIO the political woods or
out IN the OPEN