The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-01

publican and Democratic, and these Nor
1on voters are absolutely controlled by
he hierarchy 1t Is possible for the
authorities OF the Mormon church, sit
ing In Salt Lake City, TO say TO either
party In Idaho; IL you will agree to
our demands, we Will place you In pow
sr.' IL can say TO any individual or
either party: If you agree to support
:aeasures favorable to us, we VIII make
you Senator, Governor, or put you In
whatever ONCE you may aspire TO. Is
not this great power inimical to the best
interests OF the State? VIII 1t not build
up in our. politics the system OF boss
'sm,' 10 trample on the aspirations OF
our people? Was not this great power
oi the Mormon hierarchy lately exerted
at Pocatello, when. in a convention in
which three polygamists sat, two men
we're permitted to prepare slate ana
parcel out the ofhces of this State with
out regard to the choice OF the people.
but always with tho approval OF the
Mormon leaders, The motto Of that con-
vention seems to have been, II we can
please the hierarchy, the people can be
disregarded,'
Work of John Henry.
Have We not seen In Boise the polyg-
amous apostle. John Henry Smith OF tho
Mormon church, endeaVoring TO coerce q
Legislature and TO change the clear pro-
visions Of the Constitution OF Idaho
against polygamy, which, he said were
so Objectionable TO his people, and has
not this been testified TO by leading Re-
publicans OF Idaho?
Have We not seen the polygamous
apostle, Matthias Cowley, masquerading
rs a book agent and visiting homes In
one Ada county, with the statement that
inasmuch as he was the spiritual adviser
OF the people. they must listen to MIN
IN political affairs? Have not the people
Of this State seen Apostle Penrose, like
wise a polygamist, leaving his of1ce in
Salt Lake City and coming at the re-
quest of political leaders In Fremont
county, Idaho, and changing its political
complexion in a night? ls there. In this
demand that the Mormon hierarchy
should refrain from interfering In tho
political affairs la Idaho. any partisan
politics. IL so, then the evidence OF
leading men, both In the Democratic and
Republican parties. must be dtsregarded,
Who can view the last session OF the
Idaho Legislature without tho blush OF
shame mantling his cheek? Did not Rep
resentatIve Ainey, q Republican OF Can
yop county, stand up In the House OF
Representatives and declare that he had
been approached by members OF this &c
eleiastical Organization and told that IL
ne voted for certain measures bis use
tulness as legislator was ended? Have
their subsection to Joseph F. Smith OF
Salt Lake that such q statement can be
made by one OF their Representatives and
they not resent it7 Was It partisan poll
tics. when acting under their constitu-
tlonal duty, the Judges OF the Supreme
court OF this State wisely suggested to
the Legislature OF this State that
change OF venue bill be passed. IN the
interest OF Justice?
One Pointed Question.
And yet. was this Democratic politics
when this measure. advocated by the
Supreme court composed of two Repub-
Leans and one Democrat) and introduced
by so prominent a Republican as Judge
Richards OF Ada county in the House,
;he Mormon Speaker left the chair, and,
descending 10 the floor OF the House,
characterized the bill as the weapon OF
character assassins. and with passion
declared It an insult aimed at the Nor
mon people? Why? When this change
Of venue bill was being discussed In the
Senate. Senator McBeth, in advocating
ITS enactment. stated that IL this bill
should be passed. II would be tho death
blow TO polygamy, and on this state
ment. notwithstanding the recommenda-
tion Of the Supreme court Of the State.
opd in order TO continue this abhorrent
practice, the influence OF the Mormon
hierarchy in the Senate forthwith
killed II.
Are citizens OF Idaho who are striving
20 lift Idaho TO the high place occu-
Died by her sister States in civic
authority and public morality. TO be
called partisan when they insist that
laws which have proved eficacious In
other States In preventing disease and
in fostering public health. be adopted In
this State? II in agitating against the
control Of the affairs OF Idaho by the
Mormon hierarchy. we be called partisan,
We point to the experience OF DR.. France,
Republican Representative from sho-
shone county in the last Legislature, as
an example OF the power OF the church
20 oppose and defeat the best interests
Of this people. DR.. France, at the re-
quest OF the State Medical BoardI intro
duced a Board of Health bill, which, In
effect, provided the machinery for stamp
ing out epidemic and contagious dis
eases. and provided for the collection
Of the vital statistics Of the State Idaho
Is the only State OF the American Union
which has not such law, and to the
credit OF the medical profession OF this
State, they endeavored to place Idaho
IN line with the best medical and scien-
copying the best part OF each law
from the different States on this sub
ject. DR.. France introduced this bill,
and was thereupon told by the repre-
sentatives of this Salt Lake hierarchy
that II he eliminated the provision re-
garding the registration of births, the
bill could be passed: otherwise 1t could
not. Upon his refusal TO truckle to this
plainly immoral demand, the bill met the
same fate as it's predecessors by being
defeated at the hands Of the Mormon
influence, Thus TO hide the evidence that
they stll preach and practice polygamy,
the Salt Lake hierarchy have exposed
the people OF Idaho to contagious dis
ease, and possibly death. by keeping
The State from having the necessary ma
cbinery to effectually quarantine against
disease.