The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-03-21
Achievements of Agitation.


Democrats what good has been accomplished by the
fight made by the Idaho Democracy on Mormonsm
during the past four years If the question
asked of these same professed Democrats what good
has been accomplished by the fight which has been
made by the Democrats of the Nation in their
platforms under the leadership of Mr. Bryan, what
would their answer be? Undoubtedly the
would be- they have compelled the Republican party
to adopt their policies; and they would call to wit
the utterances of President Roosevelt and
partially accomplished legislation along the lines of
the demands of national Democratic platforms. If
you would ask these same professed Democrats if,
on account of these utterances of President Roose
welt and these feeble but ineffective attempts for
reform legislation, it would not be the part of
wisdom for the Democratic party to abandon the
policies of the national party because the Republ
cans had partially recognized their demands, in
der to harmonic few Democrats in New York and
elsewhere who had persistenty refused to endorse
these policies or vote for Mr.. Bryan, they would
jeer you. The professed Democrats of Idaho, who
have not supported their party for the past two
campaigns, urging this identical program on
the Idaho Democracy.
What has the Democracy of Idaho accomplished
by the Mormon agitation? Speaking in sordid
sense it has saved the State one-haf million dol
lars The Legislature of Idaho during Governor
Hunts first administration, passed sugar bounty
BILL giving flat bonus of $4,000 to sugar factories
to be erected, and one cent per pound for the first
year and one-haf cent per pound for the second
year on all sugar manufactured. The Legislature
was Democratic but both parties were bidding for
the Mormon vote and members of both parties sup
ported the measure. Governor Hunt vetoed the
bill Governor Hunt was renomnated. The beet
sugar factories in Idaho Mormon institutions.
The polygamous president of the Mormon church,
Joseph F. Smith, is president of every one of them
and polygamous apostles are directors The Nor
mons refused to support Governor Hunt for re-
election both in convention and at the polls 1t was
in this campaign, 1902 they made their deal with
the Republican party
Governor Hunt was defeated and Republican
Legislature elected This Legislature passed the
sugar bounty bill which Governor Hunt had We
toed it was signed by the Governor but the Leg
islature overlooked important item and failed
to make an appropriation of money to meet the
quirements of the act.
Some time after the Legislature adjourned the
Mormons made demand on State Auditor Theo-
dore Turner for part of the money due them un-
der the act. He refused to draw the warrant. The
Mormons promptly refused in the following Republi-
can State convention to renomnate him.
For other and much higher considerations than
the sugar bounty bill the Democracy of the State,
their fight on Mormonism in Idaho.
Among other things they attacked the sugar bounty
bill, and no Legislature has dared to carry out the
trade and vote the half million dollars which the
law as it stands today says shall be paid the Nor
mon sugar factories. Democratic Legislature would
repeal the law and not allow it to stand as
unfulhl1ed political bargain.
1t may be that of the professed Democrats