The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-11-09
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WASHINGTON, Oct 30-Tha BOARD of Utah
commissioners has submitted its second an
uual report to the secretary of the interior.
After making a statement of former legislation
of congress, in relatisA to bigamy or polyganiy,
they say:
The duties OF the commission appertain only to
matters of registration and election and eligibility
to Office. while the punishment OF thu crime OF
polygamy is left as under the former law to courts
OF justice. Under tho anti-poiygumy act of the
commis sion 1t had good success at the general cleo
ton OF August, 1883, in excluding polygamisls
any Illegal votes have been cast in Utah since the
commission took charge Of registrations and cleo
tons in August. 1882. The enforcement of the
present law against 10, 700 polygamists, who have
been excluded from The polls, shows the act has
been fully and successfully executed. 1t = thought
that discrimination between those Mormons who
practice nolygamy and those who do not, while not
likely to have much effect upon elderly men. who
already have n plurality of wives, and several fam
lies. must have great weight with young men of the
Territory. many OF whom are ambitious aud aspiring
and would not like voluntarily to embrace political
os;racisln The very existence of u law, disfranch.
Using polvgsmists, must tend to destroy their inhu-
ence, whenever it is understood IL Ia to be perman-
ent discrimination. The fact also that 1t will be
necessary to the preservation OF the political infu-
ence of the Peoples party-as the Mornons style
themseives-to have a large body of their mem
oers who are not polygamists, must lend in time
to weaken the practice of poly samy, for every
married Mormon who takes but one plural vito
,oNSS ~ iio " Nv ttiose
or his two wives, woman suffrage being established
by law in Utah. Concerning plurality of wives,
the report says: That a doctrine and practice so
odlous throughout christendom should have been
upheld so many years, against the laws of congress
and sentiments of the civilized world. is one OF the
marveis of tho nineteenth century, and can be
scarcely appreciated even bv those familiar with
the worlds history. In relation to the d. difficulties
OF government control, Or
IMPRESSION OF RELIGIOUS FANATIcIsN.
certainly no government can permit a violation of
IT'S laws against poiygamy under cover of coustitu-
tlonai guarantees OF religious freedom; and while
congress may not legislate rs to mere matters Of
opinion, yet it may denouuce and punish as crimes
those actions which are in violation of social
duties or subversive TO good order. Tho right OF
congress to suppress this great evil is undoubte ted.
II is equally piaiu that the dignity and good name
of this great government among the nations of the
earth demand such congressional action as shall
ehec'uatiy eliminate this national disgrace. The
commission renew the recommendations contained
in the report of Nov. II, 1882, notably the one
regarding the enactment OF a marriage law BY
congress declaring all future marriages in the Ter
rltory NIL and void, unless contracted aud evil
deuCed in the manper provided by tho act. II The
next legislature shall fail to adopt measures in con-
formity with the provisions of tue act of 1882, for
the suppression o! polygamy, the commission will
be PREPARED TO recommend. and congress certainty
will not delay the adoption of most stringent
measures compatible with the limitations of
the constitution. that may be considered
necessary for the suppression of this great
evil. The report refers to various municipal
elections, and saws the most import Mt election was
that OF Aue. 6, 1888. Tie total number OF votes
cast in this contest was 81 800. against y. 1928 the
last November election. TIE PRINCIPAL falling eff
was on the part of the Geutiles. or liberal party.
In November the total vote of the peoples, or Nor
mon party, vas 2;3.039; liberal. 1854. III Au-
gust. 1883. the vote of The peoples party was 90
sos, and tho liberal ABB, from which it appears
large numbers of liberals refrained from voting, a
fact
MUCH TO DE REGRETTED.
for the reason. it is believed, that by proper effort,
and by good management, one or more non-Ator-
mons might have been elected to tine legislative
! Ssamilr Nrhn u-nr13 ho,n ,N n,,~ ,,,,. -.t-
ting the majority GU record. In conclusion, the
commission says: Recently some ten suits were in
stituted in the Third district court Of Utah by Nor
nous, against members of this commission, com
plaining that they had been unjustly deprived OF
the right to register and vote. TheIe are under
stood TO be- test cases, designed to contest the con-
stitutionality OF the Edmunds act, as well as the
These suits are still undecided, and are likely to be
Appealed to the supreme court OF the United States.
II has been asserted that polysamous marriages
have increased since the passage CT 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
dilipent inquiry. we believe the latter conclusion is
correct: but the Utah legislature will have the on
portuuity of satisfying the country on :his particu-
laI subject by the passage of such public marriage
act, as that we have suggested to congress. By
this aud such other legislation as we have indicated
they Will give the government the assurance OF
their loyalty and patriotism, and avert q contest
that cannot but result in their discontinue. We
consider it proper to commend the zeal OF the gov
erGor of Utah in his efforts to enforce the laws
ALEX RAMSEY A. L. PADDoCK. ID. L. GODFREY
Alb. CARLTON. J. r. PETTIGREw.
To the Hon. II. Nj. Teller, Secretary Of the
Interior,