The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-02-22
THE IDAHO SCIMITAR.


able forced testimony before the Smoot COMMITTEE
and at point the developments ran as follows:
Senator Overman Suppose there is conflict, il
your church the first duty or the State?
Mr.. Roberts That is hypothetical | cannot tel
what [ would do
your frame of mind One time you did defy the
church, as | understand it, out there?
Mr. Roberts | did, to extent.
Senator Bailey But they beat you that time?
mean you defeated at the polls when you did
not submit to the discipline of the church?
Mr.. Roberts Yes, sir
Senator Bailey. Then the next time when you
did submit you chosen?
Mr.. Roberts. Yes sir
Calvin Cobb of Boise, publisher of the Idaho
Statesman, witness before the Smoot committee,
said in the course of his testimony
1t is the general feeling among both political par
ties that the Mormon church is to be dealt with as
political quantity. In the campaign it has always
been my experience that the state chairman of both
OF the great political parties always goes to Salt
Lake. | am usually acquainted, in fact in almost
every case, with both of Them and just before the
election it has been my experience that they have
come to me- each one, and whispered to me that they
have been down there and that it is all right
The effect OF that carried through all of our po-
ltcal work there is that every political leader, when
the Mormon church wants anything, he thinks it
wants anything IS willing to grant it. So the great
mass OF our people are perfectly powerless in that
condition of affairs
Mr. Cobbs testimony given in April 1904
Since that date the Democratic organization of the
state has separated itself entirely from the Mormon
church, as matter of principle, leaving the hier-
archy wholly to the bargaining instincts of the Re-
publican organization and arraying itself against all
the infamies represented by the Mormon establish
ment
Nearly four years have elapsed since that party
began its conflict against church control in politics
and in government and against polygamous practices
and its organization is strong enough in its advo-
cacy OF the principles of morality and honorable self
government to sustain the policy it has adopted
After the raid of the Mormon church on the con-
stuton of the State of Idaho, in 1902, the convic-
ton became fixed in patriotic minds that some pow
erful influence must intervene between the church
and the state to prevent the destruction of all politi-
cal liberty, and the Democratic party accepted the
task and has sustained it through defeat I'D to the
opening of the campaign of 1908
Gathering strength year by year. the Democratic
organization of Idaho is now better equipped to
meet the issue than ever before and it will have the
lctive support of the national Democratic organiza-
ion, already committed to the overthrow of the hi
rarchy in all the polygamous states Mr. BRYAN
With the lofty purpose that has Illuminated his blam-
ess public life, will be found among the leading op-
onents OF system that has cast its damnable dis
race the mountain states
To those who charge that the Democratic party
t Idaho is making assault upon religion of
od, the evidence of church control in the affairs of
tate, herein contained is submitted 1t has before
cen rendered plain that the Mormon establishment
harboring and encouraging the crime of polygamy
1t is against these two Notwithstanding evils
lat the Democratic party is directing all the strength
lat it can command. The plea of an attack upon
,igion will have weight among right thinking
,ople.