The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-07-04
Church Control.

freest people earth" observable in the contig-
states of Utah and Idaho, both under the po-
ltca rule of the Mormon hierarchy.
1t is stated that in Utah there has never been a
Gentle governor Gentle secretary of state Cen
tile treasurer, Gentle auditor or Gentle super
ntendent of public instruction 1t is the fixed con-
clusion of the people of that state that there
will be long as the hierarchy counsels the "freest
people" how to vote
In Idaho where the hierarchy maintains control
only through combination with a political party
is so cautious in its demands its political
ciates that it has never but demanded a state
office. 1t hoped in the beginning that it might be
represented in the department of justice by one who
had taken the endowment oaths but found that the
people full of distrust that it would not do
to cultivate
Mormonism thereafter consented to distribution
of the elective offices of the commonwealth among
reliable Gentiles with whom it was associated in
the governing business taking it toll and its tithes
out of the appontve offices and accepting the local
offices in the heavily Mormonized counties of the
state.
1t is exceedingly discreet is the hierarchy knowing
just how far to go in the not yet entirely conquered
state of Idaho. What it will do when its power is
fully established, if it should be- is for the flu
ture to determine What it has done and is doing in
the state of Utah is told by the Salt Lake Tribune
There are seven districts in the state there have
been fourteen judges who are members of the Nor
mon church, and who every six months sustain the
law-breaking hierarchy by holding up their hands
VI these fourteen Judges, two polygamsts and
one is bishop There have been seventeen Mormon
district attorneys in these seven districts
In the convention which framed the constitution of
Utah. the constitution under which live II of
the members were Mormons, 80 of whom were poly
gamlStS, We have had 3 Mormon 1 Jack Mormon
and Gentle United States senator's; 5 Mormon and
Gentle members of congress. One member of
congress excluded from the house because he
was polygamiSt.
In the first legislative assembly of Utah there
were 43 MormonS, 683 per cent 20 Gentiles or
ST. per cent; 8 polygamlsts, or 81 per cent. The
second assembly contained So Mormons 82Il per
cent; 10 Gentiles 17A per cent; 6 polygamists and
plural wife.
In the third legislature there were So Mormons. 10
GentlleS, Polygamists and plural wife. In the
fourth assembly there 46 Mormons II Gentiles
3 polygamsts. The fifth legislature was the same
as the fourth, while the sixth legislature contained
70 MGrmons' 20 Gentlles and 1 polygamist. The
seventh was III about the same proportion
lake the appolntve offices since statehood and
there have been i'll round numbers 800 Mormons 100
Gentiles 81 polygamsts, and plural wives appointed
on the several state boards. This shows that more
than twice as many Saints have been given places as
those given to GentileS
Taken as whole, the figures show how the her-
aaIchy the band OF tweny-Six dominates Utah po-
ntcally. In twenty-four of the twenty-seven coun-
fles every county official is Mormon These are
facts that can not be controverted Verify. the hi
earchy is the political boss of Utah
From the day of its completed organization. the
Mormon church has been political institution. seek
ing control IN government wherever it has existed
as an organization It's first troubles in Missouri and
limos were engendered through its delivery of the
solid vote of its communities to one or another of
he then existing political parties
The votes of the individual Mormons were then, as
ow directed by the head of the church. the prophet
nd reveator, and the people rose against the COM
lnatlon of church and state theu hue saa 10.