The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-14
Idaho Senator Caustically
Arraigns Mormonism and
Denounces Nations Chief
UTAH GIVEN OVER
TO POLYGAMISTS
Declares Power Vested in
Chief Executive Was Used
to Aid Smoot's Cause
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO The CALL

SPECIAL DISPATCH TO The CALL
WASHINGTON. Dec. I3.- Senator
Dubois of Idaho In the Senate today
charged President Roosevelt with hav-
Ing aided the Morsnons in the last cleo
ton in Idaho and Utah. The Senator's
speech was a eausfic arraignment of
Mormonism and vhsf he described as
the Presidents attitude toward that or
EsnfEatiOn. He spoke for three hours
and held the close attention Of Senator's.
Dubois declared that MormOnism was
the only issue in Idaho last fall, and
yet the President sent Secretary Taft
into that state TO talk for "Iaw and
brder.-
Dubois went into the history of the
Mormon church. its relation 10 cleo
tions in the States where X was strong
est and declared that the destruction of
the influence of the church in politics
would accomplish more toward wiping
out polygamy than anything else
Speaking OF the Idaho incident he said
In part:
When Governor Gooding of Idaho
and the chairman Of the Republican
State committee were engaged in citing
law breaking and law-defying Nor
mons to additional lawlessness. the
President Of the United States sent his
Secretary Of War into Idaho TO plead
with the people TO stand by Governor
Gooding in order to maintain law and
order in Tdsl1n
CALLS 1T ~UN-AMERICAN"
The non-AIormon citizenship of Utah
and Idaho think they are entitled to
the support OF law-abiding citizens
everywhere in their erorts to maintain
American citizenship in these Mormon
States. and if they annot receive that
they have the right to demand thai
the President of the United States shall
not use the great power vested in him
In the interest of these law-defying
and un-American organizations in their
determination TO rule the politics of
this section"
Polygamous relations were being
sustained. Dubois said, by President
Joseph Smith and majority of the
twelve apostles. Polygamists, he said,
occupy the highest positions politically
and in the church, an constitute the
wealthiest and most powerful mem
bers Of the church organization. Polit-
IcaIly. he said. the Mormon church has
absolute sway in Titan and is exten ling
its control into Wyoming, Idaho and
Oregon.
AS to Senator Smoot, he said, it made
no difference whether he was or was
not polygamist. The Senator was a
pillar in the church and in control Of
Its temporal spiritual and political pol
icies, and was selected Tor the Senate
because Of his position in the church.
"smoot," he added, represents the
church and not the State and would
DO the bidding of the church before
he would serve the real interests of
the State or the nation. BY being an
apostle Of the church Smoot is one of
the chief conspirators and by his ac-
puiescence supports the plans and aims
Of the conspiracy
Turning his attention to the cam
paign preceding the recent election.
Dubois read the press dispatches of
October %. which stated that the Pres
ldent had sent Secretary Taft to Idaho
In order to speak in advocacy of law
and order. At that time, Dubois said
he had telegraphed to the President
that the only issue was the desire of
the Mormon hierarchy to continue TO
dominate the politics of the State and
that the President had been misled if
be thought there was any other issue
Dubois referred to messages of Pres
idents Buchanan, johnson, Grant.
Hayes. Garfield. Arthur and Cleveland.
citing what he termed the menace of
Normonism" and proceeded:
4 call attention to the messages of
the Presidents for two purposes-one
Indicates the views Of our former ex-
ecutives, the other to mark the con-
trast between them and the present
occupant of the White House. Nor
monism is more insidious, more dam
gerous and a greater menace to our
Government and civilization today than
It was at any particular period when
these messages were addressed to Con-
gress. Yet the President has not seen
ht to comment upon the situation in
his recent message TO Congress.
'-Nomanhood and home are making a