The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-01-04
In Budge's Defense.

1t is not unexpected that the Deseret News a
publication issued at Salt Lake by the Mormon
church, comes to the defense of Judge Alfred Bulge
of the Fifth Idaho Judicial District against whom
an action has been brought involving his right to
occupy judicial position
The News testifes to the good character of the
defendant in the case and attributes the attempt to
secure his removal from important office to per-
sonal anmosity the part of interested in
the appeal that has been taken 10 the Supreme Court
of the State.
1t is not question of the character of the de-
fendant, as it is viewed from the standpoint of the
Mormon the anti Mormon 1t is a question
whether not he has right to hold any office
under the constitution and the proper place of appeal
the question of jurisdiction first involved is the
Supreme Court.
The Mormon influence has so strongly protested
against the action taken to strengthen the belief
that it does not want the question of office holding
by members of its sect brought into any tribunal
where it will be judcially determined The Deseret
News, commenting the appeal in the case against
Judge Bulge, says:
The constitution of Idaho, as we understand it,
embodies provision to the effect that no person
belonging to contributing means to religious
organization that teaches polygamous, pariarchia,
plural celestial marriage, shall have the right to
vote or hold office in the State. In the minds of the
strictly synonymous in meaning and the inhibition
designed to break UP the practice of polygamy.
The members of the constitutional convention were
not cognizant of the fact that marriage might be
celestial and at the time have of the
elements of plurality connected with it.
Such is the Interpretation of the State constitu-
ton by Mormon authority and the Interpretation of
what was in the thoughts of the who wrote the
constitution and the men who ratified it by their
votes. Mormon authority complains because the ap-
pel1ant in the will accept its Interpretation
and keep out of the courts and let the matter rest
The constitution says that no person is permitted
to hold any civil office who is bigamist polyg-
amist or is living in what is known patriarchal
plural celestial marriage, in violation of any
law of this State of the United States forbidding
such crime; or who in any manner teaches counSels,
aids encourages any person to enter into bigamy,
polygamy or such patrarchal, plural celestial
riage or who is a member of contributes
to the support, aid encouragement of any order,
organization, association, corporation society
which teaches, advises counses, encourages or aids
any person to enter into bigamy, polygamy such
patriarchal plural marriage, or who teaches or
advises that the laws of this State prescribing rules
of conduct are not the supreme law of the State.
1t is little wonder that the Deseret News prefers
its version and its Interpretation of this constitutional
clause to any version Interpretation that likely
to come out of the of the State the Federal
Union The reputation that Judge Bulge may or
NAV not enjoy is not trial Whether the appel
ants like him or dislike him is not at issue Is he
4 lawful Judge? That is what the State wants to
know and the only course that can bring an answer
% the question is being followed.
IF Mr. Bulge had not been Mormon, he would
not have been elected to the position he now occu
,ies and being Mormon, it is within reasonable