The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1906-09-13

,ublic. The ofIenses of these meu ID
invading Idaho in behalf OF their
foul system are set forth Ia language
that burns, and an appeal is'made 70
the voters of Idaho to free that state
from its subsection to Joseph +.
Smith. of Salt Lake, and to resent
the interference Of bis hieraTchic
autocracy.
The experience is recited OF rep
resentative In the state legislature
who declared that she bad been ap-
nroacbed by members of this ecclesi-
astical organization and told that II
he voted for certain measures DIS
usefulness as legislator was ended.
In refutation OF the proposition
that this was democratic politics
when the measure was suggested
that change OF venue bill be passed.
the fact is stated that the proposed
measure was advocated by the SUI
preme court of the state, composed
of two republicans and one democrat
and was introduced by Judge Rich
ards. of Ada county. prominent re-
publican. And yet this non partisan
measure. which the Mormon hierarch
undertook to stigmatize, as demo-
cratic measure, was in fact, wholly
non partisan and legally desirable;
and the attempt to handicap the bill
was the usual hierarchic fraud.
A generous appeal Is made to the
voters OF Idaho to lift that state to
the high plane occupied by other
states. In civic authority, and to in
sist that laws which have proven
ei,icacious in other states In prevent
ing death and fostering public health
be adopted in Idaho, In spite OF the
church opposition. This refers to
the defeat by ecclesiastical influence
OF the bill introduced by DR.. France,
a republican representative from
Sboshone county, to provide the ma
chinery for stamping out epidemic
and contagious diseases. and to pro-
vide for the collection OF the vital
statistics of the state. In these two
propositions the Mormon hierarchy
scented danger, first, as breaking
down their usual resistance to vacci
nation, and second in requiring the
recording OF births, which they as
sumo would expose their unlawful po-
lygamous relations.
These are hut instances Of the per-
nicious interference of the ecclesiasts
of Salt Lake In Idaho's political and
civil affairs. That interference is
constant, and at times 1t is domi-
nant; and MIR. Lockhart justly shows
to the people Of Idaho that this in
reference is at once extraneOus, evil,
and vulnerable. He is eminently
right in this, and the people OF Ida
no who are free from ecclesiastical
domination cannot possibly fail to
respond to his fervid appeal that
they shake of this domination and
conduct their civil affairs In their
own way, Without this interference
and without any interference and
guidance or counsel" from any in
trusive priesthood that seeks to carry
out it's theories Of the Kingdom Of
God ruling in the temporal affairs of
men.
The address is an immensely strong
one; it is bound to appeal knowingly
to the patriotic hearts of every free
and independent voter in Idaho.
We trust that it may be put in the
hands of every elector In our neigh.
Dor state prior to the day of election,
so that all may see precisely what
the main issue in this campaign Il
In that state. 1t will be In vair
that any appeal should be made or
| the usual hackneyed political lines tC
the voters Of Idaho this year. They
have vital issue of their own, which
Is no less than the establishment Of
their political and personal freedom
in the control and management o.
their civil affairs. Until that free
dom and independence becomes estab
lisbed, 1t Is idle to talk about minor
issues. That is not only the para
mount issue In Idaho this year, 1t /.
the dominant, exclusive issue, besid,
which all Others sink into nothing
ness. Salt Lake Tribune.