The daily Alaskan., 1906-12-07
UTAH POLITICS

decided to go out of business forthe time being. Most Of it's members will beeome allied with the American or Autl,Hornon party and hereafter there SIl be put oue1issue in Utah elections the Mormon church.
 The MormonS some years ago inter eI Into sn alliance with the republican national committee agreeing to give. UtSh's vote to Mckinley in return for which the republicans bound them aelvss to protect Mormons from a repe- tltion of such 8 disaster as overlook Consressmen Brigham II. Roberts, who was expelled from the national house on account Of bis polygamous conduct and received not the support ot bis osmocrstic colleagues. It isunder stood, be 1t said in justice to the late NIr. Hanna that the Mormons agreed pot to advance a Mormon as senator or As representative iu the house who VAS actually prscticing polyamy.
 This alliance between the Mormons and the republicans has continued 10 exist. It was renewed oy Mir. Cortel- you aud 1t is proclaimed in Utah that 1t has the endorsement of Roosevelt. lt hn been sufficiently strong in the United States senate to prevent a vote upon the right Of Reed Shoot to 8 seat h that body, though two-thtrds of hiu six years term will have elapsed next March.
 This alliance did not become Partic- ularly obnoxious to the gentiles of Utah at first. The Mormons played the game 700. smoothly for that. They elected s gentle to the senate alter their frs, victory-Thomas Kearns, a millionaire mine owner sud Roman Catholic in religion. But. as soon as they hsd gained full control of the re- publican organizations of the state and all is counties and the federal patron sge-.PresIdent Roosevelt continues 10 recognize lhs Mormon right to dictate as to the state pstronags--Sena,or Rsarns and his friends were rooted out of the party. They organized the American party.
 While 8 great many democrats joined the American party. the democratic pGrty,as sn organization, declared for the abSollte separation of church and state, but took a course less offensive 70 Independent Mormons, as individuals, than the course pursued by Senator Kearns and bis following though ia many instances there was fusion be- tween the democrats and Americans. This middle course was becoming so popular that 1t was attracting many young Mormons, who sought 10 avoid the church issue for one reason or smother, and l. bid fair to make the democratic party dominant in state affairs. Tu some of the towns and counties the democratic position was 50 sstlstsctory to the people that both the other parties accepted its local tickets and avoided the necessity of political contests. But democratic dreams were set at naught late last September by the promulgatLou of the Smith 'commandment," which set The stsse on fire. Joseph F. Smith, the head of the church, "communed with God" and had q revelation which commanded that every church member should vote the republican ticket hsncetorth. Of course Senator Shoot, who has charge of the political affairs of the Mormon church, inspired the revelation. The result was ;he triumph Of the church-the opposition breaking almost even between the dem ocrsss and the Americans, the demo- erSts predominating very slightly. The Smith "commandnent" aroused such a storm of protest among the gentiles that thousands who would have been aAsiS6ed with the position of the dem ocrstic party refused to accept any thing less radical than the most radical and s revival in the American party