The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1907-11-02
Perfidy at Salt Lake.

rapidly progressing
Apostle Smoot and his associates of the church
hierarchy refuse to allow the Democratic party in
Salt Lake City and the state to retire decenty and in
order from an unavailing conflict where nothing
but dishonor and defeat are to be obtained. They
insist that the party shall remain in existence under
pretense that the division upon national party lines
is necessity and sanctity In election after cleo
ton the Democratic leaders induced to believe
that the church will either grant favors permit the
voters to exercise their free choice of candidates and
policy In election after election this promise fails
The expectation turns to disappointment and the
local Democracy finds itself operating adjunct
to the Smoot Republican machine, utilized only as
an advertisement to the nation of the fasehood that
there is such thing as politics in Utah.
Just now the church has nominated two candi-
dates for the mayorality Richard P Morris has
been selected under the Democratic name; and his
party friends voube in their assertions that he
will be elected to the office from which he retired
two years ago. Candid ones among them will
ing to voice their hope that the church will assist
him to this end as it assisted him into the mayor
atty four years ago in opposition Frank Knox, the
Gentle Republican candidate Thus is kept alive
the glow of Democratic hope and apparent rea-
son for the maintenance of Democratic organization
and the appearance of division upon national party
lines.
The Republican candidate of the church in this
foreordaned contest is Dr. Charles C. Plummer,
Gentle, but affiliated with the church Republican
machine and the new favorite of the ecclesiastical
government. Through the persuasion of the Smoot
crowd, DR.. Pummer induced to stand as can
didate against the wish of such of his friends as
are not in close ailiaton with Smootsm; and 1t is
apparent that to induce him to refuse such advice,
he must have received positive assurance that he is
e. 81 ocriGc he o1t of he
strictly Mormon candidacy of Richard P. Morris,
the Democrat.
Under ordinary circumstances, having to choose
between a tried and true Mormon candidate and
Gentle candidate, the church prefers the Mormon,
no matter what party he may represent; but these
are not ordinary circumstances. A plant Gentle is
often and particularly under existing conditions,
more useful to the church than a Mormon Smoot
is building up his Republican machine and must VIM
dictate to the Republican party of the nation his pre-
tension of absolute control of the political operations
in his state and surrounding country Therefore it
seems likely that the Democracy will suffer not only
betrayal once more, but rank humiliation
Some of the Salt Lake newspapers and politicians
opposed to the church to think that Joseph
F. Smith will keep Democrat in the mayoralty of
Salt Lake in order to justify the maintenance OF
democratic organization and they argue that as he
once selected Morris he will do so again. But the
conditions are different today from those which ex-
listed four years ago. At that time Frank Knox,
Gentle and Republican, very repugnant to the
Mormon hierarchy. Today DIR. Charles q. Plummer,
Gentle and Republican, is very acceptable to the
Mormon hierarchy, and may be more available
candidate than Mormon would be. 1t seems to
be assured that all of the Mormon church strength
will be thrown to the candidacy of Charles g. Plum
mer Republican, and that the Democracy OF Salt
lake is to once more drink the bitter cup.
IL. Of he church t1L0u WEARS