The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-09-29
Mayor jennings on Polygamy.


CHICAGO, Sept 2 -John G. Jen
| nings, mayor If SAT- Lake City, was
| found in y room ut the Palmer house
| THIS evening. He stated that in ref
| creme. to the law prohibiting pOlyga-
inv, leading citizens of that country
were putting aw ny their plural wives.
In exclamation he stated they pro-
vided other houses for these wives
and they lived there with their fami-
lies.
"Has the Edmund's bill been very
effective toward suppl ssing po-
lygany 2"
tlelnan, hut 1t has not proved salts
factory to the Gentle element. The
Commissioners have not only strictly
enforced the law but exce-ded it, yet
they have practically accomplished
nothing"
"Iu what way have they exceeded
their authority"
Take my case for instance. was
msrried to my first wife IN 1855, in
1871 I was married to my second wife.
| was q polygamlist then. but before
the passage Of the Edmunds law my
t.rst wife died. I was not allowed to
vote vet l wa not in p0ygauiy, when
that bill, was passed and l am MT
now y p0iygamist. What am going
to do about it? l am going to su the
commissioners for $4,000 damages tor
depriving NE of my rights rs u free
man. TIe government is not re-
sponsib!e for the acts Of its officers
when they exceed their authority
nd 1 propose to snow
hat they have done so
IN this cAse. Under the Edmunds
la = all offices held by polygamists
are vacated" -.
"How is it that Moruons still hold
these otiices?'' asked the reporter.
"Those offices are held ny Nor
mons who are nOn-p,lygamists.
When the office is vacated before the !
Of the term to which the
was elected the vacancy is
filled by appointment. The Probate
Judge aud two Sclectmen are ap-
pointed. The majority, Of course,
can appoint. We will say, for in
,tance, every official was y pelyga-
mist. A Selectman would resign,
aud the remaining two would ap-
u Mormon who Lad only one
but who Was as strong in the
faith as the other official who had a
half-dozen wives. Then the ether
would resign and 4 simliar
appointment be made, and the Pro-
bate Judge would resign to be sue
by an anti-poiyganist, whose
taith was equally orthodox, and by
his e the polygamist office
holders were succeeded by ME of
heir own choice"
After this clear explanation
Jennings stated that it was an
dea of bis own and after c"nsulta-
ion it was adopted and carried out.
"And you still hold the for? ?"
A slight smile rippled over the
Mayors ruddy co%untenance as he re-
)lied: "''Yes, We offered the Gentiles
! few places in our c 'uncil chambers
ind county offices believing that the
minority should have q represents
ion. They refused because they
not get them all. Now they
hall not have any unless they vote
in. The Democrats do
lot give the Republicans anything
lnless they vote themselves in. [
the Republicans do not give
he Democrats anything. and we in
end to do the Gentil-s just that way.
Jtah polls about $4,000 votes, but
bout 10, 900 were stricken from the
Ills. The Gentlles polled less than
900 votes at the last election. l
resume that was their full strength,
tut Acknowledgement increases eur
trength."
"How SOP" asked the reporter,
linking this is a contradiction of the
.rms. f..
"My wife and myself were
Iisfranchised, my ten son will :
ote for Ia and throughout the ter
tory children are coming of age
Tho will vote the wishes of their dis
,anchised parents. About three
1ousand voters are addict yearly in
MS way and by Immigration" {
''What will be the next move of I
ne Gentile?"
"They are doing nothing and I .
o not think they will recommend
ny additional legislation. Tue Ed s
bill has exhausted its force t
nd accomplished little or nothing,
lough I believe the GENTLE women
re getting up their usual petition to
ongress. They are the ones that .
lake the mos; noise" !
The mayor next referred to the CO. G
al evil. He said: "The city is rap l
lly filling up with abandoned
omen. They are getting trouble S $
me, and I would like to have them |
1t of the city. Until the Gentiles !
lrue to Utah such women did net :
We in our city and there were no $
i'm shops either" II
Mr.. Jennings further asserted that !!
night city marshal was shot by n
Gentiles and that the 7cibune, q t.
organ, which has been vic. e
ntly abusive t. himself and church b
ould be lynched. 81