The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-12-07
waEELINa, ". VA, DEoE4BER :, 1883.


The Mormon Problem.
The Mormon question has recently been
attracting great deal Of attention. Cen
eral Resecranz lately conceived a plan for
combating the growth Of polygamy in
Utah, and proposes to submit it to Con-
gress. Briefly stated, it is to adopt Con-
s,itu!ional amendment prohibiting polyga-
my. But this is unnecessary, inasmuch as
Congress has already full power to Iegls-
late on this, as on other subjects, for the
government Of the territories, and an
amendment to the Constitution will not
obyiate the necessity Of legislation, for no
Constitutional provision enforces itself.
General Rosecranz's plan would leave the
Government where 1t wa1 before any le'
pressiye legislation was adopted.
Governor Crosby, Of Montana, has an
other plan. 1t lis to not only disfranchise
polypamists, as now provided for, but pro-
hibit them from settling on Government
lands, under the provisions OF the Home
stead aud Presumption acts. But this is
very short step in the right direction, liza
step at all.
Secretary Teller, in his report, speaks OF
the workings OF the Utah Commission I'M
der the act OF March %, 1882, to suppress
bicamy, and says that by action Of the
Board under the provisions Of said act, all
persons practicing polygamy were excluded
from the polls; that legislature elected in
August last Is composed entirely OF Nor.
mons, none Of whom, however, are polyg-
amists.
The Secretary further says:
Ths Board reports also that ct the August
eleslion there were elected, In addition TO
the members OF the legislature, probate
Judges, clerks Of county courts, asssssors'
SHERIFF. county treaSurers, county superlh-
tsndsnts Of schools and officers, numbering
10 all 900, all Of whom are monogamlSt MOT
m,ns. The elections we're conducted In
Guiet and orderly way. The vote In August
last wa: Mormons, 20,70S; liberals, or anti
Aormons, l,453 This l:st vote, however,
does not appear to represent the real strength
OF the liberal party, for in November, 1857.
that vote was 4, 1884.
Tia Board report that the number OF
plural marriages has decreased since the PISS
sage OF the act under which the Board 10 act
ing. H.
members of the Board 10 test the validity Of
the act Of Congress.
So far, so good; but some difficulties oc-
cur to US in reading the further remarks on
the same head;
Should the legislature to assemble IN
January next enact such laws as arc proVld-
ed for In section 0of the act OF March y,
1852, necessity for such Board will cease,
for 1t Is provided thSl they shall continue In
Office until the legislature shall make pro-
vision for filling said Offices rs herein author.
lied !" that is, until the legislature shall have
enacted such lava as shall prohibit all
polygamists from participating In the election
OF public officers, or from holding any such
Office. It Is not provided who shall deter
mine the question whether the legislature
provided for the filling Of said offices in &C
coriAnoe with the provisions Of the said act
or moi, II is not believed that NE Legislature
will lake the steps required; fo;, while 1t Is
composed entirely OF Mormons rho do not
practice polygamy, II Is undoubtedly true
that they are all believers in the rystem Of
plural marriages, and only abstain rom Its
practice from economical or prudential rea-
sons. Should the legislature fail to tate tho
atens reouiYed by the act, the necessity still
exists for the services OF the Board, and IL ap-
pears TO be necessary that such legislation II
altempted, ahould DO submitted to some tn
buuAI TO determine whether such Legislation
Is in compliance with the provisions OF sal d
act. Congress would appear to be the proper
authority for the determination OF this Ques-
ton, and therefore I recommend that Con
gress require the submission OF such laws for
its approval before they shall be- considered
by any Department Of the Government
compliance with the requirements Of the
provisions Of such act.
Suppose the Legislature should pass the
laws contemplated by the act referred to;
who will enforce them? Such legislation
emenating from the Territorial Legislature
would be the most iarcical kind OF farce
under the state Of affairs stated by the Sec
rotary to exist in the Legislature. The
words OF the President on this subject,
commenting on the report OF the Secretary
OF the Interior, are forcible and pertinent.
The Presidents suggestion seems to so to
the root OF the difficulty for the first time:
I am convinced, however, that polygamy
has become no strongly entrenched in the
Territory OF Utah thatit Is proflLless oattack
It with any but the stoutest OF weapons
which constitutional legislation can fashion.
favor, therefore, the repeal OF the act upon
which tho existing Government depends, the
assumption by the National Legislature Of
the entire political control OF the Territory.
and tho establishment of q commission with
such powers and duties us shall be delegated