The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1914-04-30

1904 the Idaho legislature, unanimously
and without discussion. passed a mo
ton for a new state constitutional con
vention that would omit the anti polyg-
amy test oath because 1t was objection
! able to the Mormons. Mormon news
papers are even now engaged In a pro-
paganda for new state constitution
having the same end in view Mormon
and jack Mormon candidates for cleo
ton to the state supreme court are com
mon at every general election. for the
same purpose OF emasculating the test
| oath clause of our state constitution
Similarly. the legislature of 1Ss9-1900, in
amending the general election law, elm
mated the constitutional test oath and
prescribed a new form of electors oath.
although the state constitution expressly
declares that the legislature "shail new
er annul any of the provisions In this
article contained Cart. vi, Sec A.
1t therefore follows that there has not
been a legal election held in the state
of Idaho since 1898. Should history re-
peat itself, ii has an uncanny habit
of doing, and the electoral vote OF Ida
no decided "a presidential election at a
time when party feeling runs high. as
in 1867, civil war might result. Presi-
dent Wilson refused to recognize the de
facto government of Mexico because of
misuse of the functions of government
by the Huerta regime. and the people
of the country believing him to be gov
erned by altruistic reasons, have upheld
his policy with practical unanimity. But
our altruistic president need not look
beyond the Rio Grande for an example
of highlander government. We have 1t
here In the sovereign state of Idaho
where the highbinders of the Mormon
church have swept aside the fundament-
al landmarks of American citizenship
by multiplying our state constitution
making local self government farce
and establishing the rule of a church
over the state.
l may be told the solution of this
problem rests with the people of this
state. Very true. But as long as the
people are divided on political lines, the
Mormon church. through the absolute
control of its members, and by reason
of its alleged non-political character.
will control the political affairs of any
state where there is a small per cent
age of Mormon population BY getting
foothold in a large number OF the
western states, they hold the balance
of power In those states and thus in
fluence the national congress to a far
greater extent than appears on the
face. The control of a compact min
GRITTY of the members of congress gives
them the balance of power in the ma
tional government, just as it gives them
control of the states. The secret of
Mormon power lies in the alleged non
political character of the church and
the absolute control of it's membership
by the head of the church. The Nor
mon church, wherever established, con-
stitutes a third party for voting purpos-
es. and neither of the political parties
can win II it's leaders fail to make
terms with the Mormon church. Party
platforms are useless.
With the great and growing finan-
cial and political power of the Mormon
church 1t is easy to see what will hap
pen II the public domain is turned over
to these western Mormon states as adj
vocated by Governor Spry, of Utah.
and other governors in the late confer
ence. Its ultimate absorption and col
onization by the Mormon church is a
foregone conclusion.
A. f. PARKER.