The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-21
BY @. E. ARNEY.

o W. kAISlS64s
Special to The Tribune,
POcATELLO. Ida, Aug. 2o.-A Nor
mon said to me yesterday: 81 deplore
the facts that some of our bishops are
inclined to run for office. do not think
it is right, II they are ambitious for
politics. they should resign their bish-
opric. Their identity In politics en-
barrasses the lay Mormon, who recoG-
nizes their ecclesiastical superiority"
This has been the great curse OF this
southeastern Idaho situation for many
years. Look back over the past twelve
or fifteen years and call to mind the
part which the bishops have taken in our
politics. There has been Bishop Bulge,
Bishop Parkinson, Bishop Hunt, Bishop
Hyde. Bishop Smith, The significant
thing IS that these bishops have all, In
turn. held seats in the Idaho state legis-
lature. and the names mentioned above
Idaho; facetiously referred to as our
Little Utah. j. G.. Bear Lake. Oneida.
Bingham, Cassia, Bannock and Fremont.
Some OF these bishops have made good
representatives on some matters 9th
ers have been distinguished grafters. All
have obeyed authority. The demand on
them to abide by the whim Of the au
thority from Salt Lake was even greater
on them than as though they had been
only cldersl They have been responsible
all OF them-for the near approach TO
the enactment of that most vicious OF ali
attempted legislation, sugar bounty
bill. They favored this because of the
fact that in an adjoining state the reve-
letors Of their faith held a slight mi
nority OF all the stock Of the Utah Idaho
Beet Sugar company.
Here in Rannock county is a fragrant
example CT this comrningling of private
interests with public service.
Here are five high churchmen, all Nor
mons, candidates for party nominations.
President Lew Pond OF the Gentle VAL
ley stake Of Zion aspires to become the
Republican nominee OF his party for
membership on the board of county COM
missioners, Bishop Frank Hunt Of the
Swan Lake ward of the Mormon church
seeks the Republican nomination as a
Bannock county member TO the state
legislature. Bishop George Fisher OF the
Bancroft ward OF the Church OF Jesus
Christ of Latter day Saints Is a candi-
date for the Democratic nomination for
the state senate. Bishop Milo Hendricks
Of the Pocatello ward OF the Mormon
church IS trying TO be nominated on the
Democratic ticket as a candidate for the
legislature. Bishop i: II. Reddish of tho
Lund ward Of the Church of Zion IS q
candidate for the Republican nomination
Tor assessor OF BannoclS county.
There are numerous elders from al
places on the two tickets. but theii
claims for political preferment are less
odorous than these men Of high ecclesi-
astical caste in the Mormon system.
IN question OF tno interests OF TINS
church organization and the people. the,
at once become biased parties. and biased
In favor of the Mormon system. They
are the higher personages In the sys.
lem. They are compelled To choose be.
tween the church and the state. and. o.
course. they choose for the religion O.
their birth. The system they believe ir
to give them preferment in this life nnc
cndless happiness In the life to come
outweghs the duty which as servants o.
an electorate they should owe to th,
statei
They arc at once In that unbapp,
status Of trying TO "scrvc Two masters
Bishops should not run for public Of