The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-09-01
APPEAL TO THE
VOTERS OF IDAHO
Chairman H. w. LoCkhart of
Democratic Central Com
mittee Issues Letter.
CAMPAIGN ON IN EARNEST
CHURCH QUESTION UPPERMosT
THIS FALL.
CAMPAIGN ON IN EARNEST
fsbecial to The Heraldl

especial TO The Herald.)
Boise Ida. Aug. 31.-The following let
ter to the voters OF Idaho has been is
sued by Chairman H. w. Lockhart of the
Democratic state central committee:
ITO the People of Idaho-In view of the
great consequences which will arise from
the campaign of 1906 and which may af-
feet for good or evil the destinies of the
people of Idaho for a long time to come,
have deemed it proper that statement
should be given to the people of this
state relative to the course to be pursued
by the Democratic state committee, of
which II have the honor to be the chair
man.
Pledge Made by Party.
"A convention of the Democratic party
lately held I'm Occur d. lene city. has de-
clared i'm unmistakable words that polyg-
amy and unlawful cOhabitation must
cease, and that the interference in the po-
litical affairs OF this state by the Nor
mon hierarchy must stop; and 1t pledged
the party, If given the power by the peo-
pie at the polls. to carry into effect by
statutes Furnishing such offenses, that
clause of the state constitution which
has heretofore been at once the bulwark
OF morality and decency in the homes Of
this state and the weapon Of defense
against the political domination of an I'M
scrupulous and selfish alien oligarchy
which seeks to confuse the religious sem
timents OF lis people by directing them
IN their political actions.
mo partisanship has dictated the
course Of the Democratic party i'm pre-
senting this issue. for at all times. dis
regarding the possibility of deriving ad-
vantage by trucking to the Mormon HE
rarchy. the Democratic party has sought
to occupy the high ground of citizenship.
which looks solely to the welfare of the
state and the preservation of those homes
which are at once the glory and the safe
guard of republic.
PoIygamy Increasing.
I'VE affirm unhesitatingIy that polyg-
amy is not only practiced i'm this state,
but Is increasing TO an alarming extent,
and if the people of Idaho entrust the af-
fairs of the government Of the state of
Idaho to the nominee of the Occur d AL
enc convention and the legislators from
the various counties who endorse the
Occur d'Alene platform, we will pass such
laws at the next session Of the Idaho leg
islature as Will enable us to prove this
assertiOn-without which laws we are
powerless to act We affirm that chill
dren. the future citizens of this state.
are being born branded with illegitmacy
and deprived of their legal birthright and
reared in an atmosphere which must un-
dermine their moral natures. To abso-
lutely stamp out this crime. prohibited
by the moral sense of mankind, and TO
rescue these little children so that each !
may stand equal in the eye of the law.
unashamed of its parentage. we appeal to
the motherhood of this state to stretch |
out protecting arms over the children |
reared in the vicious practice of unlaw- |
full cohabitation.
Appeal to Women Voters.
The women Of Idaho have been given !
at once great privilege and great duty
and we urge them so TO act in this cam
paiRu that the claims made in their be-
half shall be indicated. viz. whenever
n question Of morality should be present |
ed TO the people. the votes of the women
would. be cast fearlessly for the right. |
Can you. women of Idaho. looking into
the clear. innocent eyes of your own
children. fail to help us free the polyga- !
nous children of the curse OF bastardy? |
Was Il not taught on the shores of Gal |
flee that ''It were better that a milestone
were hanged about his neck and he be !
east into the sea. rather than he should |
offend one Of these little ones? Is that !
not living truth today i'm Idaho? Is not |
the question whether or not you will con- |
tinue to permit these little ones to be |
offended. put straight to the hearts of the |
women OF Idaho today in this campaign; 1
down forever the practice of polygamy !
I'm this state? There have appeared apol- |
ogists for the old polygamists but who. |
II not the women Of this state, shall be /
heard in defense of their young children.
Crime condoned in Idaho.
"The state of Idaho stands pilloried be
fore the United States placed there by |
French before the Reed SmoOt investigat- |
ing committee of the United States SEN !
ate. where sitting between TWO pOlySa- /
nous apostles OF the Mormon church, he |
unblushingly testified that the people of |
Idaho condoncd the crime OF poygamy |
and unlawful cOhabitattOn in the cases |
OF old polygamists. Do you women of
Idaho condone the birth of the children |
of the old polygamists. tainted from their i
infancy by this system of crime? (Last /
July a. forty-third child was born to the !
third polygamous wife Of Joseph +. /
Smith president of the Mormon church.) |
Are we 10 allow this statement to stand |
regarding Idaho. or will the earnest men |
and women of this state repudiate it?
Power of the Church.
NO less momentous in its effect upon |
the future of Idaho is the interference in |
political affairs OF the Mormon hierarchy.
AS is well known. the Mormon voters hold |
the balance of power between the Two |
great parties. the Republican and Dem
Ocratic and these Mormon votes are abb
solutely controlled by the hierarchy. 1t |
is possible for the authorities OF the Nor
GOOD AND HARD