The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-01-18
A Little Recent History.

addressed letter to Democratic campaign speakers
in which he said:
The campaign in this State is going to be very
interesting one. The greatest question to be sub
mitted to the voters of Idaho is whether or not
the Mormon hierarchy is going to dominate in the
political affairs whether the people of this State
are going to settle the question this time by making
it plain that the good people of Idaho will never
submit to church dictaton of politics and the prac-
tees of those vices which against the moral
sentiment of the law of the land.
Such were the instructions for the campaign of
19o6-the last campaign The Mormon-Republican
combination successful in that campaign, though
bv decreased majority, the vote showing that thou
sands of Republicans voted against the alliance.
The campaign of 1908 is approaching. The cause
that was defeated in 1906 is again in the field. Its
courage is undiminished Its intention has expert
enced no change The issue proclaimed by Mr..
Lockhart in 1906 is the issue for 1905 and 1t is para
mount though this is presidential year Partisan
voters will divide on the head of the National ticket
Voters with clean morals will then unite to crush
the hierarchy and its associates in the State.
Throughout the campaign of 1906 it was the in
tention of the Democratic party to enforce the pro-
visions of the constitution of the State election
dav especially the section that denies the right OF
suffrage to po1ygamists and to all others counenanc-
ing supporting, excusing aiding in the promulga-
ton of po1ygamous doctrine or asserting to poyga-
nous practices The section includes in its proscrlp-
ton all members of the Mormon church in recognized
standing.
Tn that intention, the Democratic party was
STRENGTHENED by declaration made by Senator Hey
burn. speaker on the Mormon-Republican side OF
the contention in speech delivered by him at BOISE
on the 18th of September, 1906 The Senator r1dl-
cued the Democratic party for the pains 1t had taken
to make an issue of the constitutional edct saying
That is in the constitution; that is higher law than
statute The Legislature, without regard TO parry
lines repealed the statute on that suOJeCc. Ihey
needed no statute the constitution is Sulnc1ert ~
prevent them (the Mormons) from voting Ii they
come within this provision they are d1stranchlSed
A few DAYS before the election the chairman OF
the Democratic party issued instructions TO VoterS
to challenge all persons who were presumed TO COMIC
within the inhibition of the constitution, ana ABOUT
the same time Chairman Brady, of the Republican
committee said in an address to the election Judges
of the State:
Anv attempt to challenge voters on account OF
their being members of churches or organizations,
or assocations or on account OF their renglOus VI
other beliefs (including of course, their DeIet III
the crime of po1ygamy) is illegal and is an lntldd
ton of voters and it is your sworn duty u sec '
this is not done.
So the chairman of the Republicans affirmed what
the Senator denied-hat the constitution OF the oldle
was inoperave in its most important particular anu
he and others advised Republican voters ana eiec-
ton officers to resist the application OF the organic
law to the disfranchised members of his alliance VIII"
the church. -,
Governor Gooding came to the assistance OF INC
chairman and in a speech delivered at Kexford'
Mormon precinct, day or two before election Jay
he said:
Arrest these challengers if they Interfere OF te
timidate you. l will stand by you as OoVeliioi " '