The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-08-29
MOrmOnism and Politics.

ing heavy blows upon the Mormon system A week
two ago he delivered chautauqua address at
Indianola, Iowa. The day following he was inter
viewed by the Indianola Advocate Tribune and in
the interview he said:
AS early as 1882 Bishop Lunt said:
The day will when Utah will be in the
union and will then practice polygamy We will
next gain more political power that when the
two great national parties together some
vital issue will cast lot with the party which
will offer the best legislation first with side
and then with the other. Finally will be able to
influence the presidential election. Our people vote
unit and cast their ballots they directed"
That is the Mormon situation exactly. Today they
hanging to the tail of the republican party and
certain men of that party very careful to keep
a bait there that they will continue to hang
How much of that prophecy has come true.
In the first place Utah is state. Joseph F.
Smith, B. H. Roberts and scores of other Mormon
leaders today practicing poygamy with impunity
New marriages are being Solemnized in Utah and
Idaho today and no arrests are being made
eSae ID Rsed an apostle as o6 sent to the
stated on the witness stand that he was under the
direction of the polygamous Smith, that he had
before asked permission from Smith to be-
come candidate but could not become candidate
until Prophet Smith had given the word
The election of Smoot precpitated the fight The
Gentiles of Utah protested against his being seated
They charged that Mr. Smoot teaching and
promulgating polygamy, which was against the laws
of Utah and the United States that he was placing
men in political office who were openly acknowledged
he, controlling member of the Mormon hierarchy
was responsible for the broken pledge which the
hierarchy had entered into with the United States
when the MornonS secured statehood
Jeremiah Wilson of Washington, D. c.. who has
been hired by the Mormons to plead their cause
said: Suppose the Mormons should break these
what would congress do? They would shut the
doors of the house and senate against them; deny
them the of the United States mail and de-
prve them of the use of the federal courts. Com
me he in1On ccIbe ap6th
to submit.
AS we said, the selection of Apostle Srnoot by
the Mormon prophet to be senator precpitated the
fight into congress- The investigating committee af-
ter than three years of investigating reported
to the senate that they had found Mr. Smoot guilty
of every charge that had been brought against him.
They adopted the resolution that Reed Smoot is not
entitled to his seat in the senate and advised the
senate to adopt the report
Three republicans, Messrs, Depew Do11ver and
Burrows voted against SnOOt with the democrats
and the other republicans Of the committee, Knox,
Foraker, Hopkins and Beveredge voted to seat
Smoot Before the final vote was taken in the
senate some mysterious power was brought to bear
upon Senators Depew and Dollver so that they both
became turncoats and backed down from their first
stand and voted with the republican party to seat
heir colleague, Smoot 1t seemed necessary for the
party take care of Smoot under the circumstances
1t this way. In 1896, when Bryan and Nc
Ainey opposing candidates the Mormons
we're democrats and voted for Bryan B. H. Rob
.rts, democrat was sent to the house but he was
,ut out. The Mormons saw great light The
light was SO vivid that in the next election when
Ir. Bryan and President Mckinley were once more
pposing candidates practically the plat
orms the Mormons suddenly became republicans
nd supported Mckinley.
Mckinley made no campaign against Mormon
rhine. Every president up to his administration
rom the days of James K Polk had urged appro-
rate legislation against Mormon treachery Thus
was that the republican party must either sup
ort Smoot it had been supported in Mormondom
unseat him and bring to light the disgraceful per-
of Mormonism in politics during the last
ecade Of the nineteenth century. +