Graham guardian., 1914-09-25
RELIGION IN POLITICS


denominations in politics, Bisho
Lay ton, If Graham county, an esti
mable man, probably. came out in al
open letter, advising the Mormon
to vote for Mark Smith. On tn,
other hand, everywhere Throughout
the State the Knights of Columbus
single shotted Paul Geary for cor
poration commissioner.
Now let us look at the result
Dor C. Babbitt, of Mesa. one ot
the best men in Arizona, a sterling
honest, clean man was defeated fol
corporation commissioner and the
cause of his defeat was Bishop Lay
tons letter. The X. of C.'s more
cunningly voted solidly for Geary
but kept out of print.
Now, we want to say to these
Mormon people--while better citi'
zens do not live in any country than
the Arizona Mormons, the days are
past when this church, or any other
church, can openly take part in
politics and cast the church vote
solidly and get away with the goods
The attitude of the Mormon church
in its open advocacy of Mark Smith
will defeat that old RUE in the gen.
eral election. and further it will
prevent for all time the election of
any Mormon to a State office, no
matter how desirable or competent
he may be.
During the campaign this pubiica-
ton was in receipt of numerous
letters, asking whether or not Nit
Simms is Mormon, the writers be-
ing angered at the attitude of the
church in behalf of Smith and in
tending evidently to take it out on
Mr.. Simms. We don't know whether
he is a Mormon or not, so in justice
to him we did not reply. We do
know that he is first class. honest
and capable man.
There was a time when the Nor
mon vote controlled Arizona politics
That was years ago when the popu-
lation was small and the old timers
paid little or no attention to church
interference in politics. But now
we have new and large population
and these people resent religious in.
reference in politics and they are
dead right in their position. Poll
tics and religion should be divorced.
Not only the Mormons but the K.
Of C.'s will ascertain in the general
election that the Independent men
and women of Arizona will resent
their mixing of politics with their
church activities"
II the above editorial, printed in
Dunbsr's Weekly last Friday is a
fair sample of the truthfulness of
that magazines editorials it will not
be long until it will have outlived
its usefulness.
So far as Graham county is con-
cerned there is not one word of
truth in the entire article relative
to either Mormons or Catholics. We
are positive that not single utter
ance was made here by the Knights
of Columbus to induce any Catholic
to support Mark Smith or any other
candidate.
AS to the charge against the Nor
mons, we simply say that there is
not Bishop Layton" in Graham
county, nor has there ever been one,
and what is more, there has never
been a Bishop Layton" in the whole
State or Territory of Arizona.
Further, too, no officer or member
OF the Mormon church came out in
an open or any other kind of letter
and advised the Mormons to vote
for Mark Smith or any other candi-
date. Any Mormon who is a demo-
crat has right to choose the candi-
date he wishes to vote for or advo-
cate. Everyone accords this privilege
even to Brother Dunbar, although
sueb statements as the above help.
rather than harm the candidates he
is opposing,
The statement that the Mormon
vote ever controlled Arizona politics
is equally untrue. Make it as far
fetched as he will, the nearest that
Brother Dunbar can associate that
statement with the truth is the fact
that Graham county has always been
democratic and supported Mark
Smith through thick and thin; did
this for the twenty odd years that
John o. Dunbar was among his
warmest supporters. Rolled up
for Mark Smith when |
Greenlee county was included in
Graham and was generously ap-
plauded by Brother Dunbar for its
loyalty. This county has always
been loyal to the democratic party |
and we are proud of it. For in-I