The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-02-22
Church Control In Politics.

senate committee investigating the right of Mr.
Smoot to seat in the Senate. Their bearing is upor
Mormon church control in politics, topic that is
going to be very interesting in Idaho during the
coming spring, summer and fall
Judge Hies of experience in the af-
fairs of Utah, having been many years in public life
through federal appointment and election He was
asked by a member of the committee to give an in
stance of church interference political affairs and
he promptly replied that Mr.. Smoot himself was an
instance. Continuing, he explained:
| that Mr.. Smoot would never have been
elected United States Senator unless he had been an
apostle and had received their consent and their
Endorsement. When Mr.. Shoots candidacy was an
nounced and 1t was known that ne had the consent
of the church, it was then known that he would be-
come Senator of the United States.
1t was settled in the mind of the public as soon
as the preference of the hierarchy for Mr. Smoot
was know that he would be elected to the Senate
that other asprant had chance to win-that all
other individual hopes laid asde-that the Gen
tile DIRECTORS withdrew from the field and Mormon
voters accepted the arbitrary edict of the church
and there hesitation over their action at the
polls.
That was one convincing example of church con-
troll in secular affairs, something that is to be an
issue IN the coming campaign, for the hierarchy has
agreed that certain are to have the Offices in
machine, working in harmony with the church. has
decided upon the slate and the public has been adj
vsed that Chairman Brady stands at the head of the
list
Through manipulation by the Republican central
committee, representation in the coming convention
has been so fixed as to give the Mormon church con-
troll After the deal has been perfected and the ticket
put FORTH the party spirit of the voters relied upon
to sustain the conspiracy, will be appealed to- They
will be reminded that this is presidential year and
that they will be expected to march shoulder to
shoulder to victory that the glorious of Repub
licanism shall suffer impairment
The testimony of Judge Ogden Hles proceeded:
Mr. Van Colt. Name candidate for the
United States Senate belonging to the Mormon
church and to Republican politics whom you con-
slder more prominent for the position than Mr..
Smoot.
Mr.. Hes. Why Governor Wells
Mr.. Van Colt. Go ahead; who else?
Mr.. H1les. l do not know many Mormons who
are Republicans They are Mormons
Senator Hopkins. Do you mean that they are
Mormons before they are Republicans ar Democrats?
Mr. Hlles. Yes, sir; that is what | mean. That is
he fact
And it is with Mormons, and not Republicans that
he machine intends to win the victory for the glor-
Gus of Repubicanism, for Mor1nons are not
not Democrats but just Mormons They
re something to conspire with while self respecting
republicans expected to endorse an alliance with
UGH political outlaws that few men may win posi-
ion without honor and then trade the influence of
osltion for the protection of criminals without party
nd without country.
From both sides of the line of political division
omes the plea that the Democratic party organiza-
on is occupying reprehensible position in attack
e species of religion and men without fear of God
belief in the devil assert that the privilege of
orship is sacred and inalienable
That the church that represents the religion over c