Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1908-06-04
NONE so BLIND, ETC.

No one is so blind, according 10 an
old maxim, as Is he who will not see.
This is illustrated, in part, by the
attitude of the Crawford organs with
regard to the question whether the
great Mormon church, through It's
hierarchy, is lending encouragement
to the candidacy OF Mr.. Crawford Tor
the United States senate.
AS this paper has heretofore sug-
gested, the case rests substantially
upon probabilities. 1t is known for
a certainty that certain of the Mormon
elders, now in South Dakota, have at
various times criticised Senator Kilt
redge for his opposition concerning
the Smoot matter. That these elders
sought TO influence the public ad-
versely to the political interests OF
Mr. Kittredge is so well attested as to
require no additional proof. At Worth
ing, for instance, two OF the Mormon
elders were given to understand by
their auditors that no further refer
ence by them to Mr.. Kittredge's atti-
tude regarding Smoot would be toler-
ated
The real point-the real meat-of
the whole Mormon question, so far as
1t relates to Kittredge, is contained
in the vital issue that Mr.. Kttredge
has raised with respect to Shoots
seat in the United States senate. No
writer. no legislator, no sociologist,
has so succinctly stated the basis
ing of Mormon apostles In either
branch OF congress as has Senator
Kittredge in his explanation of his
vote against the seating Of Smoot.
Senator Kittredge has raised an IS
sue that bids fair to become national
in character. He contends that so
long as the Mormon hierarchy coun-
fapn no nxrfI Tn,
the SmoOt case clearly shows, and
until the federal government shall
have been clothed with constitutional
power to deal directly with polygamy,
there is but one mode Of punishment
Cor Utah's violation of the compact
by which it became a state. That
mode is through a Withholding OF the
Alright from Mormon apostles to par
ticipate in national legislation.
The Mormon hierarchy undoubtedly
realizes the force Of this position.
Senator Kittredge has become man
of national reputation. His reason
for denying Smoot the right to sit in
the senate strikes the country with
even greater force because Mr. Kilt
redge's opposition to Smoot cannot be
ascribed to religious 'fanaticism,
the church people who have taken
such radical position against Smoot.
Kittredge's contention is so logical as
to preclude any Mormon defense that
otherwise might be set up.
There is still another basis for Nor
mon opposition to Kittredge. He
stands committed to the adoption of
a constitutional amendment comforting
upon congress the right to deal direct
ly with polygamy and with polygamists
thus circumventing such states as
Utah in their evident determination
to ignore polygamy and to protect
polygamists from punishment.
In view of these facts the probabili-
ties assuredly point to Mormon effort
to encompass Kittredge's defeat. 1t
does not require the brains OF eminent
logicians to understand why Mormon
breasts rankle with hatred for Kilt
redge.
When ii is understood that the head
of the Mormon church has two million
dollars annually to expend as the
apostolic board may direct, without
being under the necessity of account
ing for the funds, the probabilities
mentioned in the preceding paragraph
are at once strengthened.
In this connection it may not be out
of place to call attention to the evil
dence of Mr.. w. s. Bowen, formerly
editor Of the Sioux Falls Press, now
associated with former Senator Du-
bois in the editorship Of the Scimtar
published at Boise. Iraho. Mr.. Bowen
cannot be accused of special friend
ship for Mr. Kittredge, and yet 1t is
paper that he believes that the Nor
mon hierarchy is secretly lending as
sistance to the effort to defeat the
senator. Commenting on paragraph
recently appearing in the Faulkton
Advocate, Mr.. Bowen said in the
Scimitar of May 16, 1908:
And South Dakota is getting a
too. Senator Kittredge Is a republic
an of the most regular order. He ap-
proves of the Roosevelt policies gen
orally. In one instance he asserted
his Independent preference, in conse-
quence of which he has brought down
on his head the concentrated opposition,
and, as the Advocate states, money
to defeat Senator Kittredge. This was
when he cast his vote in the senate of
the United States. as one or the two
representatives of a sovereign state
against representative and defender
Of polygamy retaining his seat in that
body.
Idaho extends cordial greeting to
South Dakota We have a touch here
Of the power of this menacing sect,
parading arrcgantly before the peo-
pie as church. There you have but
the campaign Of the agents of the
church with which to contend. Here
we have the votes of 10000 of their
devotees. ruled by the spirit of reve-
lation from the polygamous head of
TIE organization. direct from Salt
Lake.
Here they all profess to be repub-
licans, while there they are engaged
In a factional fight within the repub~
lican party, against senator because
he voted as his patriotic conscience
babe him vote.
"All this in the name OF the church,
and under the guise of religion"