The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-06
ISSUE 100 LARGE.


That versatile gentleman, Mr.. W. Z.
Borah. has discovered a new way of
stating an old question. He says that
the issue raised by the opposition is not
an issue at all, does not exist, and must
not be recognized, it will thus appear
that in contending against Mormon
polygamy and church interference In
politics, the Democrats of Idaho are
standing on a platform without sup
ports, and the Republicans would be
merely getting into n dangerous posi-
tion If they were to accept conflict TO
be thus wagcd.
II would not he fair for The Tribune
TO challenge Mr.. Borah personally at
this particular time on certain state
ments made by himself concerning po-
litical interference and polygamous
practices; although tho day may come
in this controversy when honor and all
the obligations of confidence will permit
The Tribune to state matters or when
IL is well aware, and of its knowledge
Of which the distinguished Mr.. Borah
hiuoell ndS cORnlAdnce'
But there are some matters Of public
history which it is proper to use and
which not even the temerity Of the
eloquent gentleman from Boise is sufli-
cient TO incite denial The Mormons
constitute more than one quarter Of the
population Of Idaho-a most important
quarter; they constitute two-thirds OF
the entire population of southeastern
Idaho. Not candidate is permitted
to the Mormons upon the general State
ticket Of the Republican party, which
is headed by Mr.. w. f. Borah as can
didate for the United States Senate
II there were no polygamy and no
church interference, If there were no
such issues, as Mr.. Borah chooses to
term it, with pretended aptness which
is really ineptness, why no Mormon
placed on the ticket from any one of
the counties of southeastern Idaho2 In
stead Of there being no such issue, was
not the Republican reason because the
issue loomed 80 large that the politi-
clans and the candidates were afraid to
meet it before the people2 Men who
are acquainted with the politics of
Idaho know perfectly we'll that the mat
ter was gravely considered previous to
the conventions. and considered as an
issue, as living, breathing, kicking
thing; and that the reason given by
certain eminent gentlemen who desired
to be nominated and elected was that
L. h,y 10
wear, as the "issue' was more than
the party dared to carry before the
people.
How can Mr. Borah say that Mormon
polygamy is not an issue in his State
Of Idaho when there walks the streets
Of Idaho towns the largest single polit-
ical figure Of the party to which Mr..
Borah belongs-a man, William Bulge
by name, who testified in Washington
that he was the chief Mormon Of Idaho,
that he was living openly with three
wives; and when, as Mr. Borah should
knew, the example of that chief Nor
mon is being followed by hundreds Of
others7 1t is bad advertisement
which Mr.. Borah makes for Idaho in
saying that Mormon polygamy is not an
issue there. If men may commit bigamy
with fragrant freedom, may live in
high respect in their community with
numerous wives around them, the State
where such things are must surely
be degraded in the esteem Of the
country; aad such is the character
which Mr.. Borah has chosen to give to
his own State of Idaho, which he seeks
to represent in the Senate of the
United States.