The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1906-08-23
TALKS About
MORMON ISSUE!
lion. A. r. Parker TdlkS on unSedtln9 the
Mormon DeIegatDa His Statement d
keya0te Of the Campaign,

he has ever attended There were
democrats who Travelled 1000 miles
to participate IN the proper solution
OF the Mormon problem, he stated.
Cup here I'm the North, said MI
Parker, ''se do not understand the
bitter feeling which exists among
the Gentle population in tue south
eru counties against the intclerable
conditions which residence In a Nor
mon community creates, and they
were determined that tie question
should this tine be settled right.
personally addressed the invention
upon this Mormon issue, stating that
IN the 70 years in when ! had at
tended democratic conventions In
Idaho territory and state, 1t had been
burning issue and bone OF cOnten-
tion which had set the democratic
party by the ears. That like all
other issues IL would come up again
and yet again to yex the public con-
science TIL 1t was settled right. /
believe that we now have the prob
lem In such shape that the Mormon
church must either dissolve as an
alleged religious organization, or 1t
must conform to the laws as all other
citizens conform. | took the stand
that members Of the Mormon church
, ant Ia.d m al inn
any assembly whatsoever, republican
or democratic or fraternal, until they
depose thelI present criminal leaders
and put In their places men who are
not open and avowed enemies Of our
constitution and disobedient To the
laws OF our state and national gov
ernments.
1.-THE testimony taken before the
United States senate investigating
committe shows that the present
president OF the Mormon church and
a majority OF his official advisers are
avowed aud self-confessed law break
ers who are openly living with polyg-
amous wives In defiance OF law. BY
this same testimony, President
Joseph Smith declared that under
the natural succession Of the presi-
dency Of the Mormon church there
would be polygamist president for
the next 30 years, and also major
ity Of polygamists on the board of
twelve apostles. eontended that
II the Mormon people are sincere in
their declarations that they are Will
Ing TO conform TO the laws, they can
just as easily depose these criminal
Official heads Of the Mormon church
as 1t would have been for the demo-
cratic state convention To depose its
presiding officer II he was not satis-
factory to the delegates. The lay
members OF the Mormon church dem
onstrate their insincerity by retain
Ing these criminals as their official
heads, and until they mend their
ways by recognizing their church
Organization by electing law abiding
officials, they are not entitled TO be
represented In any convention or as
sembly OF law abiding American citi-
aens. Ii Is unfortunate that both
the great political parties of our
state cannot act In unison on this
important issue. There Is no party
politics In this Mormon issue so far
AS | am concerned | want TO see
The Mormon people conform to the
constituted authority OF the law
making power as all other citizens
conform, and until they do so, | foi
one will keep on voting to shut them
out OF all democratic conventions
With which | have anything to do. =
up In Idaho county, continued
Mr.. Parker, I'VE had quite large
Influx OF new population of Gentiles
from the neighborhood of Idaho
| Falls, | do not know whether These
people are republicans or democrats
but they are all unanimous IN theil
hostility to the practices aud teach
ings of the Mormon church and The
action of the Mormon people In max
ing life miserable tor any American
citizen who has the misfortune to re
side among them. They are guilt,
of persecution and an iutoleranc,
which are iutolerahle In this FIRE,
county. The evidence of interior
eace IN our state politics is album
dainty confirmed by the testimon,
taken last winter before the senat,
eommittce. Mr.. Hart. one Of tn,
auseated Mormon delegates from
Bear Lake county, personally assursc
Tue at Occur d 'Alene that there wa,
church Interference, aud that he had
personally used his influence Will
the church authorities To cease, with
out avail This Is an intolerahle con
dltiun OF affairs which cannot he toll
Grated In free America, ana u mus
stop, either by reform by the Ia,
n,smbers of the Mormon chucrh, o
by such action On the part ot tn,
state as shall deprive them of al
their political rights aud privilege
until they mend their WAYS and be
come free aud enlightened American
citizens like the rest Of US. -
-. a. -.