The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-11-08
Report Of thu Ut.h coii,unis.ies,.;;

Report Of tho Utah CoiianalssiSu.
WARRINGTON, Oct 3O-Tha board Of Utah
commissioners has submitted ito second sn-
nusl report to the secretary Of tho interior.
After making statement Of former legislation
Of congress, in relation to bigsmy or polygamy,
they say:
matters Of registration aud election and eligibility
to Office. while the punishment Of thu crime Of
polygamy is left % under the former Law to courts
OF justice. Under tho anti-po!ygamy act of tho
ton Of August. 1883. in excluding. polyRamiste
from tho polls. and as far ~ advised very few It
any illegal votes have been cast in Utah since the
lions in August. 1882. Tho enforcement Of the
present law against 1000 polygamists, who have
been excluded from the polls. shows the act has
that discrimination between those Mormons who
practice polygamy and those who do not, while not
likely to have much effect upon elderly men. who
ilies must have great weight with young men Of the
Territory. many OF whom ambitious and aspiring
and would not like voluntarily to embrace political
The ve:y existence Ct Law
ence. whenever 1t is understood it 10 to be perman-
ent discrimination. The fact also that It will be
necessary to tho preservation Of the political inu-
themselves-to have : large body Of their. mem
bers who are not polyRamists. must tend In time
to weaken the practice OF polyeamy. for every
loses three votes for his party-his own and those
Of his two wives, woman suffrage being established
by law in Utah. Concerning plurality of wives.
odious ihrouehous christendom should have boon
upheld 30 many years, against tho laws OF congress
and sentiments Of the civilized world. 10 ono Of the
marvels Of the nineteenth century. and can be
scarcely appreciated even BY those familiar with
the worlds history. In relation to the difficulties
OF government controls or
SUPPRESSION OF RELIGIOUS FANAT1C1sM.
certainly no government can permit violation OF
its laws against polygamy under cover Of constitu.
tional guarantees of religious freedom: and while
congress may not legislate - to mere matters Of
those actions which are in violation Of social
duties or subversve to good order. The right of
congress to suppress this great evil is undoub ted.
It is equally plain that the dignity and good name
of this great government among the nations Of the
earth demand such congressional action as shall
efectually eliminate this national disgrace. The
commission renew the recommendations contained
regarding the enactment of q marriage law By
Congress declaring all future marriages in the Ter
rtory null and void. unless contracted and evil
mex legislature shall fail to adopt measures in
formty with the provisions Of the act Of 1882. for
the suppression OF polyeamy. the commission will
will NOT delay the adoption of most stringent
neasurea compatible with the Limitations Of
tho constitution., that may be considered
ueGeosaIy ZOE mo suppression OF THIS great
evil The report refers to various municipal
elections, and says the most mport'nt election
that OF Aug. 6, 1883. The total number Of votes
cast IN this contest was 81 800. against 1928 the
last November election. The principal falling of
was on the part of the Gent,les. or liberal party.
In November the total vote OF the peoples. or Nor
mon party. was 23.o39; liberal, ASA. IL Au-
gust. 1883. The vote Of the peoples party was co.
sos, and the liberal ,453, from which it appears
large numbers Of liberals refrained from voting,
fact
MUCH TO BE REGRETTED.
tor the reason. it is believed. that by proper effort
and by good management, one or more non-Nor-
mons might have been elected to the legislative
ting the majority on record. In conclusion. the
commission says: Recently some ten suits were in
stltuted in the Third district court OF Utah by Nor
mons, against members Of this commission. com.
tho right to register and vote These are under
stood to DO test cases. designed to contest the
stitutionality of the Edmunds act, as well as the
construction which We put upon its provisions.
These suits are still undecided. and are likely to be
appealed to the supreme court Of the United States
It has been asserted that polyxamous marriages
have increased since the passage OF the Edmunds
act On the contrary. We have the opinion of
many Mormons that they have comparative de-
creased since the passage Of the said act. After
correct: but the Utah legislature will have the op-
portunty Of satisfying the country on this partcu
lar subject by the passage OF such public marriage
act, rs that We have suggested to congress- BY
they will give the government the assurance Of
their loyalty and patriotism, and avert a contest
that cannot but result in their discontinue. We
consider it proper to commend the zeal OF the Gov
ernor Of Utah in bis efforts to enforce the laws.
A. b. CARLTON. j. r. PETTIGREW.
To the Hon. H. NJ. Teller. Secretary Of the
Interior.