The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-03-14
Colonel Parker'S Views.

from a we'll known Idaho Democrat:
Grangeville, Idaho, Feb 26-To the Tribune
In your issue of Tuesday, Feb. IS, editorial
headed Proposed Democratic Agreement in which
an anonymous correspondent advises the Democratic
party of Idaho to its face by ignoring the polyg-
amous feature of the ant-Mormon crusade.
Ih1S recalls to me editorial published in the
Tribune shortly after the close of the campaign of
1896 to the effect that:
The Democratic party might have carried the
state this fall II it had not antagonized the Mormon
vote
The Tribune and its Jack Mormon colleagues and
associates evidently fail to understand the principle
involved in the opposition of the Democratic party of
Idaho to the teachings and practices of the Mormon
church. But aside from this, it may be said that the
Democrats of Idaho would have carried the State in
the last election the boilers had supported the ticket
There is faction in the Democratic party which has
always favored the Mormon church, resisted
the policy of bidding against the Republican ma
chine for control of the Democratic vote
II 1t were not for the principles involved it might
be worth while to turn the control of the Democratic
party over to this minority faction just for the fun
of seeing what kind of trade they would make what
sort OF ticket they would put up and how they
would elect it. They would doubtless furnish
lot of amusement if nothing more.
Viewing the Mormon question from political
standpoint only, and aside from the moral aspect of
the subject (Which the people of the State
more than the politically large majority of the Idaho
Democracy believes that the only way to secure
the Mormon vote is by combination with the Nor
mon leaders In order to make such combination it
make higher bid for their support than the Republican
party can Offer consisting of patronage, Offices sugar
bounties, ETC. 1t would also be necessary to grant
the MormonS immunity from prosecution for the
violation of existing laws and promises to oppose
new laws looking to the prevention of the free
and open practice of the Mormon creed. The Dem
cocracy of Idaho has consistently refused to enter
into such deal, and when we behold the sad plight
OF the Republican party by of its alignment
unable to hold a convention, adopt platform or
nominate candidate without the consent of the Salt
Ioka
that the Democracy of the State did not yield to
temptation and forsake principle for expediency.
The Mormon question is political issue in this
State The Democratic party is on the right side of
this issue, and has fortunately taken such strong
position that it could not recede if it wished Sena-
tor Dubois having personally looked after the burning
OF the bridges Being the right side of the ISSUE
1T remains to be whether not the party is on
the winning side, which is, however, secondary
consideration.
AS minority party the Democrats have accomp-
lished great deal for the State If the practice
Of polygany has declined, why SO and to whom is
the credit due? We have it from the sworn state
ment of the highest Mormon authority President
Joseph F. Smith, that the faith of the sect is lust the
same as from the revelation ordaining polygamy as
doctrine of the Mormon church, and that poyga-
nous and plural marriages not only privilege
put solemn duty. Undoubtedly the practice would
flourish III Idaho today as in Utah when there was
10 restraint but for the fear of the law In other
words, a Mormon is just as good as the law makes
him. 1t IS admitted that cannot be punished
OF MS Ialtf and that we must deal with overt acts
'ny but the position taken by the Mormons is
eferred to in order to call attention to the necessity
or laws and their enforcement and to the fact that
he agitation of the subject has not been in vain,
ut has prevented the domination of this State by the
Mormon sect.
What would be the result if both the political part
IS were committed to policy of non-interference?
1t is true that good many good people still regard
he efforts made to destroy the immoral practices of
he Mormons religious, persecution although the
supreme Court of the United States has declared that
UGH is not the Let us admit that the Mormons
ave right to combine politically and commercially