The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-12-15
A QUARREL FOR sPoILs.

The Mormon church Republican com.
bine in Idaho is threatened with dis.
ruptlon. After the victory. the rival
leaders are disputing about the spoils.
The church, after having elected Good.
ing and the State ticket, after having
elected the Legislature, after having
dragged the Mormon God into the frav
TO beat the ''enemies of Zion. now
insists upon having its own and it's God s
share of the political emoument.
j, Frank Hunt, Mormon, is set up
for Speaker. He formerly occupied that
Office, and because of it's power he was
enabled to do the will Of the hierarchy
In certain significant things-particu-
larjy in preventing any legislation
which would provide an adequate means
of Furnishing polygamists for their
crimes. He is also supposed TO have
been one Of the chief instruments in the
hands of Apostle John Henry Smith in
procuring the passage, surreptitiously
OF resolution through the Legislature
10 amend the Constitution by repeal
amists. and members of church which
teaches polygamy from voting or hold
ing Office In the State. On the other
hand, some of the Gentle Republicans
are beginning 10 he fearful of the bur.
dens which are 10 be carried in this
Mormon alliance. They see that the
brazen demands Of the church, if al.
lowed TO go unchecked, Will soon dis.
credit and defeat the party in Idaho
while inflicting irrcparabIe injury also
upon the National organization. The
Payette Independent, Republican or.
gan. discourses thus on j. Frank Hunt s
candidacy;
Mr. Hunt is n prominent leaher in this
State o! n church which is under suspi-
cion OF mcddlng undulY with Idaho pol
itics through tho agency OF its own lead J.
crs and the leaders OF the Republican
party. and that for any leader OF this
church 10 accept at this time from a
Republican House so important position
az the Speokership would he 20 cast the
church and the Republican party un-
der stu greater suspicion. Another and
more potent reason is that Mr.. Hunt.
whom Speaker OF the last House OF Rep
rescntatives was leader OF the faction
that succeeded I'm keeping that body from
fulfilling It's party's pledges on the Nor
mon question. and as a result placed the
party strictly on the defensive in the
campaign Just closed. when It's position
might have been lmpregnabe and with
out doubt cost IL hundreds OF votes In
certain counties OF the state. What is
more reasonable. therefore, than TO say
that II would be unwise to elect any
Mormon 10 tho Speakership at this time.
and doubly unwise 20 elect one who has
through his personal ambitions or the
designs OF his church. placed his party
In questionable light?
And naturally the Mormon press OF
Idaho is aroused 10 a frenzy. The Reg
burg Standard, Mormon print, con
trolled from the president s office in
Salt Lake City, begins to whine Mt the
ingratitudc Of its Gentle allies. IL
says that, in the Judgment of the Inde-
pendent, "a Mormon is damned -
that he has 'no right 10 open his head
or bat an eye,' and that he is merely
at liberty 10 pay his taxes and then get
on the earth--however, with the re-
served right TO continue 10 vote the
Republican ticket.
l Well, let them quarrel. When thieves