The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1908-02-27

naturally and almost unasoidably
they quit politics.
| Apostle Cowley-who 1t might be
remarked in passing, has taken a
new poIyeamist wife since the Mani
/ festo--handed out to the "brethIen"
In Oneida county, slips containing
the names OF the republican candi-
dates With instructions that they
should vote for them. with thessug-
gestion, ''you obey me in spiritual
matters and why should you hesitate
to obey me in political atfairsY'i
So fiagrant and uncalled for was this
political dictation OF the Mormon
leaders, that the Mormons them
selves in Idaho were dismsyed.
Mr.. Donnelly, the chairman OF the
democratic state central committee,
sent Mr.. DeArcy TO Salt Lake TO pro-
test to Joseph f. Smith, the presi-
dent OF the church. Mr.. DeArcy con-
suited with some leading Mormons
in Idaho before going and was fully
fortified as to the facts. lie had an
audience with the president OF the
church and demanded that he recall
the Utah polygamist apostles from
the Idaho campaign, and warned
him that ii the church resumed It's
former practices In Idaho 1t would
renew the conflict of past years. The
Mormon chief paid No attention TO
the appeal or warning OF Mr.. DeArcy.
The republicans carried the state
and the legislature met, John Henry
Smith, the polygamist apostle from
Utah, went 10 Boise far the avowed
purpose of having new constitu-
tional convention called, Tor the ex
press object OF taking the test
oath" out OF the constitution. He
consulted a number Of leading repub-
licans in regard to 1t, among others
the ne My elected Governor Morrison,
and Mr.. VIM. Balderson, editor Of
the Statesman. These republicans
pointed out the danger OF such an
attempt and thought they had dis
suaded him, for he left the city,
apparently having abandoned the
idea. He returned however In about
two weeks, made his secret combina-
lions, and secured the passage
through the legislature OF resoIu-
tion calling for new constitutional
convention. The resolution was not
even read by title and perfect secrecy
was maintained as to its passage.
The fact was not reported In any
newspaper, and the people OF the
state were Ia utter ignorance that
such momentuous question had been
raised, and that the Mormon issue
had again been injected into our pol.
tiles by polygamist hierarchs.
1t was more than year after the
legislature adjourned before the state
was apprised of what lad taken place.
When the democratic state COM
mittee met In the spring OF J s0I, to
prepare for the campaign that fall,
the subject was brought up In the
committee meeting and the people
put on their guard that they would
be called upon to vote for or against
constitutional convention and the
object for which the new convention
was to meet fully discloses. Immedi-
ately there was such protest
throughout the state, that the repub-
lican leaders became alarmed. The
machine bad not been perfected
then and the offensive and defensive
alliance between the Mormon leaders
and republican leaders was not as
defiant and notorious as II has been
since and is at the present time.
Governor Morrison, the Statesman
and many other powerful factors
among the republicans gave notice
they would not support the scheme.
Unless the republican party would
endorse the conspiracy 1t was doomed
to failure, as the democrats were un.
itedly opposed. 1t was evident that
the attempt to force 1t on the repub-
licaDs would tear the party to pieces.
Mr.. Bagley, from Bear Lake, a
Mormon. was attorney general at the
lime and he extricated the church
and the party from the awkward
predicament ty rendering an opinion
by the request of Mr.. Borah, that
the resolution OF the legislature call
ing for tie constitutional convention
as Improperly drawn, in consequence
! null and void, and that the question
would not be submitted to the peopl'
/ at that time. The Mormons wer
Iappeased oy the assurance or som
Of the republican leaders that tn
, obnoxious test OATH would be ell
minated at some more opportuD
season, and by the further guarantee
, that it would never be enforce
= against them.
| The above stated facts are we
known and many more could be ao
4 ded.
: II was plainly the design OF III
D Mormon hierarchy to bring Idaho q
: securely under their control as Uta
o Is. This could be done by taking ii
s 'test oath" out of our state const
a tuition, thus removing the only SAT-
.fst NJ.