Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-06-04
FIGHT MoRMoNrsAf.


democrats OF Idaho should stand
solidly together for honor, for the
home and for principle placed on
the high plane Of morality and decen-
cy, It IL now. The Mormona, finding
that they could not control the party
through the Twin Falls convention,
organised rump convention for the
special purpose OF disorganIzing the
party and making OF 1t wreck which
would not have strength enough to
combat the polygamists In the peace
full practice of their alleged religious
rites In the taking of as many wives
an they wish and tho bringing into
the world OF hundreds Of bastard
children to 90 through life with the
brand on their foreheads. Such
conditions existing in the fair
state OF Idaho--and they do exist
are enough to make the blood run
cold, and yet there are ministers OF
the gospel In this state who dare not
condemn this condition in their pull
pits because they fear 1t may affect
the finances of their church or smack
Of politics. 1t IL this condition
which confronts the democratic party
Of the state today, and II cannot af-
ford 10 lay down and acknowledge
defeat At the hands OF the Mormons
with their hired emissaries fighting
to run or wreck the party. The Is
sue IL squarely made by the attempt
Of the Mormon church to control, or
disorganizes the democratic party
through the convention at Twin Falls
and the party would be too cowardly
20 deserve success should II submit
TO the yoke which the Mormons wish
10 place upon II.
The parting Of the ways has been
reached and every democrat In the
state must choose whether he will
wear the yoke Of the Mormon church
or stand up for the American home
and q clean state government purged
OF Mormon church control. The is
sue Il 80 clearly defined by the acts
Of the Mormona. and their lackeys
ct the state convention. that there Ia
NO middle ground. You are either
for Mormonism, polygamy and church
control OF your party, or you are for
free government by the people and
q clean state administration. Which
do you choose7
The position Of the Press ON this
Issue IL 20 we'll known that its future
course viii not be questioned. We
will continue the fght for the elm
nation Of polygamy and ia kindred
evils IN the state Of Idaho. The Nor
mon plan reaches farther than Idaho.
IL ID the aim OF the church to held
the balance Of power In a number Of
western states sufficient to give them
the naming Of the United States sem
atora through the legislatures and
thereby gain the balance OF power In
the United States senate. which would
carry with II strength enough to con-
troll national legislation, That Is a
greater menace than the control Of
the single state. IN you favor II your
place Il in the ranks OF the Mormons,
but II you want free government by
the people your place Is with the dem
ocratic party In It's fight against the
monster that seeks to control you
politically.
The Press has no criticism to offer
against the religious teachings OF any
man or church organization 50 long
aa they are along the accepted lines
OF morality, but when they branch
on into the teaching or practice Of
social and political crimes, and
assume the political control Of
states and legislatures. we believe
they have forfeited all right to the
protection usually accorded such or
CARNATIONS. The rights guaranteed
by cur federal constitution to free
speech and worship according to
the dictates OF oae'a conscience does
not mean license to practice poly
gamy and control the politics Of q
state any more than Il means the
right 10 ineite people to arson and
murder. and when q church organi-
nation enters the field TO control pol
titles and teach lawleas acts on the
part of its membership Il forfelts all
right 70 the protection guaranteed
such organizations.
NOT JUsTFIED nv FACTS.