The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-03-21
Mr.. French Writes.

tar, Boise Idaho. My Dear Sir: Some little time
ago you published in your paper under the heading
Keeping the Faith" editorial purporting to give
a statement from bearing upon the relation of
the leaders of the party of which | member
to the Mormon church In an editorial of more re-
cent date you have seen fit again to attempt to
dscredit me with the people of Idaho, and feel it
my duty to call to your attention the inaccuracies
and unfairness of your statements in this regard In
one editorial you purport to give a portion of my
testimony before the committee on privileges and
elections of the United States Senate in what is
known the Smoot case. Your editorial is in
part follows:
Somehow during the course of the examination
of Mr.. French before the Senate committee, it oc-
Cured to the chairman of that committee to ask
the Representative from the State of Idaho what
would be the effect upon his political fortunes should
he make complaint against polygamous
Der of the Mormon church, he would have
right to do under constitutional and statutory
ments, and have him arrested.
Mr. French think it would be resented by the
members very generally of the Mormon church I
think so.
The Chairman-So it is quite necessary in poll
tics, not to offend the church by such step
that?
Mr. French-Well I think they would regard it
The Charman-YeS.
Mr.. FRENCH think they would.
The Chairman-NaturalH
Il
breach of faith entered into with the leaders of
political parties.
Mr. French employed the plural in his final re-
ply, but it is not to be presumed that he would
be socitous the effect of breach of faith on
the part of the Democratic party, which has not
been guilty of placing him in Congress- So, accord
ing to sworn confession not devoid of sensational
features, the leaders of the political party that
opened to Mr. French the doorway to fame entered
into compact with the Mormon church that would
be violated should of its party-made officials
nf t11a cb11rc and
arraign him before the bar of justice for palpable
crime.
While you have quoted my exact language no
one knows better than you that my language had
no relation whatever to the leaders of any party
at date later than $780, when you and other
leaders made certain assurances or pledges to the
Mormon people. No knows better than do you
hat in that portion of my testimony which you
quoted that l refererd plainly to the agreement
which you referred to in your speech in the Senate
February 5, 1908 (Cong Rec. 57th Cong 2nd Sess
Up. 1729-3o) At that time you spoke as follows:
l live among those people; and SO far as | know,
II Idaho there has not been polygamous marriage
celebrated since that manifesto was issued, and [
ave yet to find man in Idaho or anywhere else
Who will say that polygamous marriage has been S
Celebrated anywhere since the issuance of that mani
este.
Mr. (Senator) Hae-Then it must follow from
nat, the years go by and the older people
lsappear polygamy as practice will be practically
emoved.
Mr.. Dubois-There is question about it; and =
will say to the Senator owing to the active part
hich took in that fierce contest in Idaho l. with
hers who had made the fight thought we were c.
stifed in making this promise to the Mormon II
ople. We had no authority of law but we took
upon ourselves to them that those older
EN- who are living in the polygamous relation who II
d growing families which they had reared and al
ere rearing before the manifesto was issued and
time when they thought they had a right under -
= constitution to enter the polygamous relation "
1T those older men and and their chill ca