The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-08-01
Judge Woods on rIOrmOnism.

adjusts his judgment outside of the prejudice of
the partisan and the ambitions and the hates and
likes of the politicians Judge W. w. Woods of
the first judicial district of Idaho has been speaking
in we'll tempered language to the Cour dAene Press.
He gave to that paper thoughts like these:
81 lived in Salt Lake city from 1872 to 1885, during
the territorial days. and l have lived in Idaho ever
since and think | have kept pretty thoroughly in
touch with the Mormon subject I consider it of
graver Importance than any question of politics.
This from the judicial mind that weighs i'm
partially considers in the light of the facts decides
upon the evidence 1t is his verdict that the re-
lationship of Mormonism government is "of graver
Importance than any question of mere politics"
Thirty-six years of contact with system ought to
produce ripened conclusions in a mind tuned to
the problems of existence. During most of these
years Judge Woods has been very close to the prob
lem that is made the subject of his opinion. His
wife of the Mormon faith the sister of Governor
Wells, of Utah, and he has been given unusual op-
porunites for reading the intentions of against
which he pronounces judgment though his preju-
dces if he has any, ought to lead him in the other
direction.
Continuing, he said:
1T is certainty in my mind that the presidency
of the Mormon church in Salt Lake CITY controls
the politics and legislation of Idaho. It was so be-
fore the administration of Governor Gooding until
the democratic party at its state convention in 1904
Mormon
counties State and other nominations had been
made and policies in great measure controlled at
Mormon dlctat1on. In the language of one of their
bishops, the chairman of one of the county deega-
tons, no nomination would be allowed that would
be obnoxious to people, No intelligent republi-
needs to be advised of the fact that since
1904, no nomination can be made for state office,
no legislation be enacted in Idaho which is obnoxious
to the presidency of the church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints
Republicans and democrats alike are we'll aware
that what the Judge says is true beyond question.
Conscientious republicans and democrats rebel against
the control exercised by oath bound sect over
their governmental affairs, through the interference
of the prestly rulers of that sect.
Republicans and democrats, with schemes of power
and profit to accomplish close their eyes to the
wrong from which communities and commonwealth
suffer through an un-Amercan alliance with eccesi-
astical aliens.
Through its constituencies politicians the republi-
organization has become chained to the churchy
power that destroys democracy and repub1icanism,
and with the agents of the ecclesiastical power the
democratic organization is now in life and death
grapp1e.
If the church bring the democratic party as
completely under its direction as it has already
brought the republican party, it will come into as
ull control in Idaho, it has in Utah, and there
will be no chance of Gentle appeal from the DONNA
ion of the theocracy at Salt Lake.
Touching upon the effort of the democratic or
sanization and its thousands of republican assist
nts to the state from the conspirators Judge
Woods says
"The democrats who are opposed to the anti
olygamy propaganda of ex-senator Dubois say that
he action of the democracy in opposing the Nor
non church drives the entire Mormon vote from the
democratic party-that if they were left alone they
would naturally divide democrats and some
epubicans, and that it would give the democratic
arty some show for SUCCESS in tIe state am {