East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1913-10-16
MORMON INFLUENCE
IN IDAHO POLITICS
(From the Lewiston Morning Tri-
bune)

The Mormons done it." is the
scornful echo that goes up from Zion
and from lions political affinities
whenever anything goes wrong in the
state. and the Tribune is prepared to-
believe and to argue that there IS
more truth than humor in the para
doX. The Mormons did not loot Bar
ney O'Neil's bank, they did not per
petrate the various Carey act scan
dals that are now making the name
of the state of Idaho a reproach
throughout the investment world. they
did not do this and they did not do
I that by their own hands or even by
having knowledge. direct or indirect,
OF the circumstances and yet they can
be held accountable in very large
measure for the misdirection and the
misfeasance of the states politi-
| cal business. including those spe-
! cific acts of which they are person
ally wholly innocent This is so be-
/ cause as things have gone in the past
state administration has needed only
to he in favor with the Mormon au-
! thorities in order to remain in power
| ana in which good public service
| played little or no part. As long as
the Mormon authorities knew that
their special interests were in friend
/ Is hands. all other considerations We're
OF little or no concern. The states
solemn and bounded duty to require
! faithful performance of Carey act
contracts could be, and was. shame
! fully neglected. rigid panK Inspection.
/ state treasury operations. game Ii
cense diversions, default on educa-
tlonal and benevolent institutions. a
score. hundred similar public mis-
carriages could and did occur. and
+, are occurring, with entire impunity,
because in other respects state gov
ernment is in entire harmony with
the Mormon policy and plan. 1t will
always be so as long as the remain
der of The state is willing to close its
eyes to the prevailing political con-
ditions and to divide itself upon
wholly inconsequential lines. whereby
the Mormon element is able To make
itself master OF the situation. Al
present the state is composed. rough
i ly speaking, of one-fourth republican
voters. onefourth democratic. one
fourth progressive and one-fourth
Mormon. The Mormon vote. either
at the polls or in the legislature is
Just about enough to coalesce with
any one of the other elements and
constitute a majority, but that rep
resents only a small part of its real
supremacy The other elements are
still cut up into factions and groups
and do not agree with each other on
anything. Thus cut up, they are ut
terly powerless for either affirmative
or negation. and for tnat reason the
solid Mormon forces have no difficult
ty whatever in prescribing what all
the rest of the state shall do and not
do,
In directing public attention to
these conditions, it will avail nothing
for the Mormons to complain that
they are being prosecuted because OF
their church We know and care
nothing about their church and ex-
pressly disclaim the slightest interest
In their religious beliefs or disbeliefs
We simply object to being governed
by the Mormon hierarchy. through
ne methods by which they procure
governing power. and by reason oi
which the state is reduced to the level
Of the peasantry class of the Mormon
constituency, in its political and gov
ernmental essentials