The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-04-18
THE IDAHO SCIMITAR.

40 VI
Idaho among the Mormons while the state of Utah
is rotten with it. yet none of the guilty are prose-
cuted
Gentle Democrats in Southeastern Idaho are prac-
tlcaly disfranchsed. In every election except the
PRESIDENTIAL they might as we'll stay at home as to
go to the polls and vote when the usual absence of
results are considered
Republican conventions are dominated by the Nor
mon delegation to such extent that the ticket
usually named is half Mormon and the other half
Jack Mormon.
So-called Democratic conventions are also domin-
ated by them. They control the organization and
the committees, and write the platform and resolu-
tons denouncng there in the Democratic national
and state platforms and sandering and insulting the
Democratic Senator representing Idaho in the United
States Senate. They then proceed to nominate
ticket of Mormons and Jacks" and yet have the
lnetfabe gall to call it Democratic ticket after
denouncing the platforms of the authoritative Demo-
cratic conventions. This ticket is promptly filed with
the Mormon Jack Mormon recorder who puts it
into the Democratic column on the official ballot.
1t is we'll established principle among the Cen
tiles of Southern Idaho that there is no such thing
as a Mormon Republican a Mormon Democrat
either term is anomaly, you might as we'll say
that there Mormon Gentles. A good Mormon
is religously, commercially and politically just
Mormon nothing else.
AS to polygamy, | am satisfied that 95 per cent of
the young Mormons of Southeastern Idaho, both
and women are honestly opposed to it. The source
of this evil is in the highest authority the crafty
members of which have found through many years
of practice that there is power so effective to
bind the members together and compel obedience
amounting almost to bondage, than this practice
against the laws of man, of nature and of Ged. The
hierarchy feels that when this practice shall be
eectualy suppressed by the heavy hand of the law,
that hour will mark the decline and final disinte-
grafton of the church itself
The President of the Mormon church is the prac-
teal master of the political situation in Idaho to-
day. 1t is not necessary that the Mormon electors
in the state of Idaho, should be in the majority
in order to control the political affairs of the state
They are the balance of power and the Mormon
hierarchy yields that power effectually 1t bar
gains with those in authority in the party organ
ization and to great extent the nominees
and indirectly controls legislation The character of
those controlling a political machine we'll as
that of the nominees is matter of little or no
concern to the hierarchy so long they in
cord with its wishes policies.
In conclusion | want to say to the Democrats of
Idaho and incidentally to citizens generally of the
state who think this question is not important
and should be eliminated in the coming campaign,
if this evil is to continue without opposition it is
bound to grow until outraged American citizenship
can stand it no longer, and the day is not far dis
tant when our people, regardless of party will insist
that the crime of poygamy shall no longer be per-
mtted within the boundaries of this state and that
the Constitution of the United States with refer
to church control of matters of state shall be
strictly enforced. Surely, that is not we'll
+La
victory in the Senate the high officials of the church
feel tlnnt he