The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1907-11-16
Characteristic Falsifier.

William A. Hyde is president of the PoCatello
Stake of Zion of the Mormon church. He is there
fore the chief Mormon and chief representative of
the polygamous hierarchy in this state Speaking for
the Mormon church, President William A. Hyde
published in the Pocatelo Tribune of October 1st,
an article on the attitude of his church, in which
he made the following statement:
AS to the attitude of the church, it is sufficient to
say, that polygamy is under its ban thoroughly
the law of the church pronounce it and all mem
bers who violate its regulations in addition being
liable to the civil law will be subject to the severest
penalties that the church can inflict.
In The Scimitar of November 2, 1907, William
A. Hyde, chief Mormon ecclesast of Idaho,
challenged in that false and foolish declaration The
Scimitar defed Mr.. Hyde to cite the time and the
circumstances under which any polygamist of the
Mormon church had been subjected to the "severest
penalties that the church can inflict"
The challenge made by The Scmitar to polyga-
nous apologist Hyde was definite. But now comes
William A. Hyde president of the Pocatello Stake of
Zion of the Mormon church, with the following
communication to The Scimitar
PocATELLo IDAHO, Nov s. 1907
EDITOR IDAHO SCIMITAR, BOISE, IDAHO.
SIR:-My attention is called to an article in your
issue of November 3D. headed "An Ecclesast Chal-
lenged" in which you quote from letter of mine
published in the Pocatel1o Tribune, as follows:
Gas to the attitude of the Church, it is sufficient
to say that polygamy is under its ban thoroughly
as the law of the Church can pronounce it; and all
members who violate its regulations, in addition to
being liable to the civil law, will be subject to the
severest penalties that the church can inAict"
You then refer to the two prominent cases in
the recent history of the church, where it is COM
monty presumed that the rule referred to has been
applied, and to suit your convenience, dismiss them
your unsupported statement, and with them
disposed of in your opinion, you then challenge
to cite instance of the application of discipline
for the offense of poygamy, and upon my failure to
do so, you propose to base the accuracy of my
letter.
The only thing that is surprising in this article of
yours is, that the "challenged" has turned "chal-
lenger."
The people of Idaho will remember that upon
numerous occasions you have been challenged by
your political opponents to bring proof of your
charges against the Mormon people, and for months
during the Smoot investigation prominent Gentle
of Utah held forfeit of 100000 ready for you
any one else who could verify the charge that in
substance but in disguised form, you repeat
Your reputation acceptor, if you will permit
me to coin word for the occasion, scarcely ustihes
you in making demands of me. But waving this
sentimental objection, there is not the good faith
and honesty in your article that would entltle you
to an answer of any question you might ask You
had not proceeded five lines in your editorial before
you had attributed to statements that do not ap-
pear in my letter If you had desired to be fair with
me and your readers you would have at least repre-
sented me correctly and until you have conformed
to the rules of fair controversy by honest treat
ment of my previous statement, could not with any
degree of self respect continue discussion with you
The thing that the people of Idaho need and wish,
is full knowledge of this question: and this they
cannot get from your biased standpoint alone nor
from any answer by me to some isolated question
that you may ask
With the haze of misrepresentation that now en-
veopes the desires and motives OF the Mormon peo-
pie cleared away the way would be open for ntelli-
gent discussion Under these conditions you could
not serve your readers better, thar to print my