The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-12-08
The utnh Commission.

The Board of Commissioners appointed by
the President under the act Of March 22, 1882
Revised statutes in reference to bigamy, and
for other purposes" report that by action of
the board under the provisions Of said act, all
persons practicing pOlygamy were excluded
from the polls; that the Legislature elected n
August last is composed entirely Of MOrmOns,
none of whom, however, are pOygamlsts.
The Legislature VIII convene in January next.
The board reports also that at the August
election there were elected, in addition to the
members of the Legislature, probate Judges,
clerks of county courts, assessors, sheriGs,
county treasurers, county superintendents of
schools, and officers, numbering in all 800, all
Of whom are mOnogumist MormOns. The
elections were conducted in quiet and or
DERBY way. The vote in August last was Nor
mons, ~ -0S; liberals, Of anti-MOrmOns, I,453.
This last vote, however. does not appear 10
represent the real strength of the liberal
party, for in November, 1853 that vote was
The board report that the number of plural
marriages has decreased since the passage of
the act under which the board is acting,
Ten suits have been brought against the
members of the board to test the validity Of
the act of Congress. Some provision should
be made 10 delray the expense OF the defense
many of the suggestions in their former re-
port as to needed legislation, and, in conclu-
sion, commend the zeal of the Governor of
Utah in his efforts to enforce the law.
Should the Legislature to assemble in Janu-
ary next enact such laws as are provided for
in section of the act of March %, 1882, neces-
sity for such board will cease, for it is pro-
vided thar they shall continue i'm Office .srntil
filling said offices as herein authOrized;" that
is, until the Legislature shall have enacted
such laws as shall prohibit all polygamists
from participating in the election of
public officers, or from holding any such Of
tce. 1t is not provided who shall determine
the question whether the legislature pro-
vided for the filing of said Offices in accord
auce with the provisions of the said act or
not. 1t is not believed that the Legislature
will take the steps required; for, while il is
composed entirely of MOrmons who do not
practice polygamy, it is undoubtedly true
that they are all believers in the system of
plural marriages, and only abstain from its
practice from economical or prudential rea-
sons. should the Legislature fail to take the
steps required by the act, the necessity still
exists for the services of the board,
and it appears to be necessary that such
legislation, if attempted should be sub
mitted to some tribunal to determine
whether such legislation is a compliance
with the provisions of said act. Con-
gress would appear to be the proper author
ity for the determination of this question, and
therefore / Q Commend that Congress require
the submission of such laws for its approval
before they shall be considered by any de-
partmcnt Of the Government a compliance
with the requirements of the provisions of
such act.
The report concludes with a review of the
Yellowstone National PARK, the Hot Springs,
the work of the Tenth Census, and the Bene-
flciary InstitutiOns-uu of which have been
thoroughly discussed by the press, and are
fully understood by the general public.