The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-04-17
IS M0RMONISM INTERFERING?
A Former South Dakota Editor Shows the Probability that the Wealthy
Mormon Church is s Seeking to Defeat Senator kitt:edee.

AHH~v" S"~S" OSS@AN !" DS~~s S~"~S~A As~'S~0s
1t is far from he purpose of the author of this preface to what follows to
excite religious prejudice or to rouse antagonism on account of religious beliefs
or modes of worship for it is realized that the stability of this great republic
must rest upon the utmost freedom with respect % religious AFFAIRS lot only as to
the n of worshipping, but also as to the form of appeal to the All wise
Father fol the bestowal of spiritual blessings
Nevertheless, a question has arisen with regard to the attitude of the Nor
MOI church in matters affecting tn. interests of the people of South Dakota. 1t is
alleged thai opposition on the part Of Senator A. I: klttredge to thu retention
of Reed smoot, the Mormon apostle, as a member of the United States senate, has
caused a mashaling of Mormon forces to encompass the defeat Of Senator Kit
redge for re eection' Whether this suspicion De we'll founded must, for the
present, restu upon probabilities, SO far as the people of outh Dakota are con
1t is known that two elders of the Mormon churh-Elder William Redd
and Elder J c. Russle-arrived in Sioux Falls about March 25, 1905. Respond
ing to newspaper interviewer,. they admitted that they a m here to arouse in
s1@s on on the ahvrh va ad r InaS Se ans, ns I'M nt nros alvup az IN i santh 'r nstot, o ad
that these would probably be joined by at least me of the apostles of the church.
The two elders mentioned have been holding street meetings in Sioux Fanr. In
justice to them, however, it should be stated that they dsclaim an political
significance attaching to their visit in he state.
But the presence of so large a number of Mormon missionaries in South
Dakota at this time naturally attracts mret than usual attention. Senator Kilt.
redge voted against allowing smoot to retain his senatorial seat, for reasons
which he stated in a speech before the senatew when the question was under col
and which are sueeinetly set forth in the speech which Mr.. Kittredge
made at Mitchell on January 81, 1908. After briefly reviewing the fact that
tween the territory, which vas under Mormon control and the United States, by
which Utah bound itself to Danish plygsmy forever, the church having issued a
tor Kittredge submitted tn following as his reasons, among Others for voting
against smoot:
St.: states s;., s ss: !: !, !, ID q ,{ \; st., Ger e: :: :: s s$s ;; ;S:; !; e. a . g: :sf $ ,: :;; ;:;%:;' ss s; :;
:sss s:;;S' :; ID T =, =: mn a., !: : !. ss +; !, S$; +: n e: .: q !; = J; | I Is :. s' ::s : s;S S y +: a. re- :: :
not tl t federal sts Ia is~s ;s and "et to re Federal srs f is"s in that Ss y regard gard '"''FS' % '"S al"
that the only remedy the United States government had in that ess was, se say
mill ' tSo.. ea %n~ot, have a sst on the floor of this senate for me of your apostles
.But what has this to do With smoot' you ask. Why, smoot became a
n ap%ss,s ID sixty s"1 %omsn, ss snS Mr. h"d sm me- *' By si ss St t e %sn sd's Smith, ds%0 tine pr nsss%
head of thec church, m Smith, according to MS own testimony raj the husband
of Ave wives and the father of forty two children, and while the senat vas co
sdenng the cae Of Smoot, Joseph Smith sat by the cradle If a child presented
to him by his fifth wife, the forty third child in ali, twelve after he had signed
the manifesto and prayed the forgiveness Of the government. And 10 doubt he
Sat there chanting the Mormon hymns which revils tn Gentles ant their faith
and laying the foundations II" teach that child the faith of vengeance by the
terms Of which the blood of the prophets were prayed to b e visited upon this ia
ton # ours.R Reed Smoot by his W testimony. o n oath, said that if the time eve
came when he must choose between his duty under his oath to the Mormon church
and the duty he owed to the government under the oath he had assumed IS sena-
tor he would leave the country. It occurred to 10 that Reed Smoot was nt the
best qualified nal that the state of Utah might have sent to that great BODY to
enact law for the people of this country to observe.
Ihfes low pending before congress a proposed constitutions amendment
through the operation of which, if adopted, poygamy ma be punished through
federal authority. Senator Kttredge favors such amendments; the Mormon
church opposes it. This suggests another reason for Mormon opposition to
Senator Kittredge.
II this connection attention is called to the article which follows. It is
from the pen OF Mr.. w s. Bowen formerly the editor of the Sioux Falls Press
now the editor Of the Idaho Scimitar published at Boise Idaho. Mr.. Bowen car
not consistently be charged with friendGnes towards Senator Kiuredge, for as
a South Dakota editor he was not numbered among the senator's supporters. His
vigorous editorial printed in the last issue of the Scimitar la wherefore be con
sidered all the NOR % the point It is as follows: