Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-01-05
THE wIDE.AwAKE WORLD


made some pertinent comments on the
tndeavors Of anti-"Mormon" agItators
10 ralse rumpus In the Gem State"
over the alleged political social and In.
dustrial influence Of It's Mormon pop
ulation. All kinds OF woes had been
predicted as the consequence OF permit
ting those much abused people to enjoy
the ordinary rights of American clti-
Eens and aid in the development Of the
material resources OF Idaho. The World
aid not appear to take very kindly TO
the representations OF impending woe,
and having had mn opportunity OF Wit
Messing what the "Mormons" have ac-
complished in that State and the effect
Of the good example they have set for
sobriety, industry, frugality and politi-
cal integrity, came back at their accu-
sers and the predlcters Of evil concern
ing them. in this way:
we should. perhaps, while granting
members ~ all other religious denomi-
nations absolute political liberty, have
dlsfranchised all Mormons good or bad.
But II occurs to the World that II any
Mormons violate the law they should
he punished Just the same as other peo-
pie for Ike offenses, and those that are
law-ablding should have all the rights
OF all other law-abiding citizens, and
not be punished for the crimes of 9TH
ers. But our future woes are not To
come altogether through the political
activity Of the Mormons, which Is very
much like the political activity OF nom
Mormons, but Is to flow In large. dark.
enveoping foods from the Idaho sugar
factories established by Mormons, The
farmers are raising sugar-beets on
thousands OF acres. are getting good
prices and waxing fat, and this acre
age VIII be increased by thousands
more. The Morinons extract the sac
charine from these beets. and In order
to do this construct plants costing mill
lions OF dollars that pay taxes into the
state treasury, employ thousands of la
borefs; but this IL undoubtedly tainted
sugar or sugar favored with the es-
sence OF the mighty hierarchy down by
the great salt sea: or, II we are wrong
IN this respect, then our future great
caIamities are to 1Ow from some hidden
mysterious source In some way connect
ed with the conversion of the sweetness
OF the beet into the delicious crystalline
whiteness known as beet sugar"
The program OF the Dubois faction In
Idaho has for one of it's features the
Acknowledgement Of all members Of the
so-called Mormon" Church, because
they are supposed to be opponents Of
the political asplrant, who sees In their
anticipated hostility and lnsuperable
barrier In the path to the goal of his
ambition. He Is undoubtedly a very
astute manipulation of political affairs,
and knowing what he has done and has
attempted to do to their injury, he very
naturally expects them to retaliate by
working against him. II they could all
be prevented from exercising the rights
Of citizenship at the polls, he figures
the result as much more likely 10 be In
his favor than ii appears to be at
present.
The Idaho World takes very rational
ground on this point, and on the gen.
eral question OF common justice and
statutory law. II Is clear TO every
rational mind that no American citl-
zen should be deprived of rights and
privileges guaranteed TO him under u
Republican government who Is not a
vIolator OF Its laws. What other per-
sons may do or not do should have no
bearing upon the status or liberty OF
the law-abiding. To deprive thous-
ands of citizens OF the franchise be-
cause OF purported wrong conduct on
the part OF others who belong to the
same religious organization as they,
must strike the ordinary mind az pre-
posterous and lnlquitous. II the name
borne by those threatened people We're
anything else but Mormon the pro-
position would be universally rejected
with ridicule or Indignation. As II is,
some otherwise sensible folks In conse-
quence OF deep-dyed prejudice, may
view the suggestion with some degree
of favor. The Idaho World, however.
Is not so easily led away from con-
sistency and decency.
The notion that the establishment OF
home industries, such az the manufac-
ture of sugar from beets raised by the
farmers Of the neighborhood. can pos
sibly be a source OF evil TO the State In
which they are established, Is SO utter
iy absurd that no one with rightrul
claims to sanity would suggest or en-
terrain II, and the Idaho World appears
TO view II IN that light and fails TO
discern In It that mysterious source"
from which gigantic evils are to pro-
coed, as the result OF beet growing and
sugar-malSing at profitable rates and
returns, both to the farmers and the
manufacturers.
So far as experience has demon
strated, the sugar industry, both In
Utah and in Idaho, has been of I'M
mense benefit TO the individuals en-
gagged In II, no matter In what capacity,
and also TO those commemorative IN
general. Each extension Of the work
that Is projected ought TO receive the
encouragement and support Of every
wellwisher to the State and the press
above all other agencies ought 10 stand
for the promotion OF such enterprises
as potent factors IN the development
Of the great West
The Mormon" beet growers and