Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-03-26

bishops, and they exercised absolute
control Of its legislation. Such a
condition of affairs in our state gov
eminent is monstrous, and how in
tefligent citizens who are proud to
boast that in this country there is an
eternal separation of the state and
church can close their eyes to condi-
tions like these and be lead by a
few peanut politicians to assist in
building up such a rotten combina-
ton of church domination in politics
is something that l can not under
stand or explain. Eliminate the
Mormon question from the platform
and the democratic party will not poll
third of the votes of the state. We
would under those conditions not
only lose the state, but lose a large
vote for Bryan.
The arguments of some of our
leading democrats that they are hope
full of carrying the state for Bryan
If the Mormon question is eliminated
from the platform and thereby in
duce the Mormons to cast their vote
for him is but a fantastic and rides
cent dream. 1t seems to me that the
inducements for them to vote for
Bryan would be greater If that plank
was left in the platform, as it would
give them an opportunity to prove
their loyalty to the democratic party
by giving him large vote and regis
tering their vote against the state
ticket. There is no question in my
mind that the church will direct a
certain percentage to cast their vote
for the national standard-bearer. 1t
is my belief that the old war horses
and Office seekers who are coming out
so strong against the Mormon ques-
tion are looking forward to democrat
ic victory in the nation, and, like the
present administration of Gov
ernor Gooding, they feel, or they
would be willing to sacrifice all prin-
ciple to induce the MOrmons to per-
petrate on the people of Idaho a
democratic administration which
would compare with the present state
administration. | said democratic
administration, but as a matter of
fact it would be no more a demo-
cratic administration than the pres
ent administration is republican, be-
cause the Mormon church has no pol
itics, as has been proved in the state
of Utah, and IL the Mormon church
could be convinced that Bryan would
be elected there is no doubt in my
mind that both the state of Idaho
and Utah would go democratic.
There is some opposition in the north
to the Mormon question, but there
would not be If they understood it.
l believe they are sincere in Their
views-most of them-and II they
really want to inform themselves as
to the conditions prevailing under
Mormon domination. my advice to
them is to communicate with theiI
friends in the south. There are many
people in the north who have friends
who are residents of the Twin Falls
tracts. Many of them are republi
cans, and aside from two or thre'
who are holding commissions undel
the Mormon church, l believe | an
safe in saying that every one OF then
would be willing and anxious to in
form their northern friends of the &C
tual conditions existing in the south
east.
at is my opinion that the Mormon
intend to move the agricultural col
lege to south Idaho, If they are sue
cessful in the next campaign. 1t
being agitated constantly in tn
south today, and il it is moved
means more positions for Mormon
and more tithes for the Mormon
!. church. The state today is paying
royalty to the Mormon headquarters
at Salt Lake for the privilege OF haV
ing its affairs managed by Josep
Smith and his advisors. As far as
am concerned, / would be most vii
ing, in order to prove my stneerit
upon this question to republiea
voters in the north. to have the den
ocratic candidates for the legislator
. INSTRUCTED to vote for the re-elecsao
of Hepburn. It is far more import
ant that we should rid ourselves G
the Mormon control than It Is ths
any particular man MOULD represer
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