Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1884-12-03
THE UTAH COMMISSION.
CAREFUL AND VALUABLE WORK.
The Consiotion> of clawson Will Prob
ably Have a Restraining Influence
Upon Young Mormons.

WAsHsGroS, Dec. The report Of the
Utah Commission, ex-Seeretary of War
Ramsey, chairman, was made public to-day.
The commission says that their duties have
been faithfully and successfully performed
with results showing that at the recent cleo
80 for delegate 10 Congress and other
actions of county officials had under
supervision, ali polygamists were excluded
from voting and holding office in Utah The
delegate-elect 10 Congress, John L. Caine, Is
Mormon, but does not now and never has
lived in polygamy, is therefore eligible under
the law. The report shows that for year or
more after the efforts TO enforce the law were
initiated, polygamy teachings from pulpit
were rarely heard. There were observable
indications that the practice of po-
lygamy might measurably decline,
there appears To have been polygamy re-
yival- The Institution is boldly and defantly
defended by spiritual teachers and plural
marriages are reported on the increase.
Three -fourths of the Mormon adults, male
and female, have never entered into polyg
amy relation, yet every orthodox Mormon
and every member in good standing IN the
church believes in polygamy. A an illus
tration of the Oneness" of faith among Nor
mons respecting polygamy attention Is called
To the important polygamy case recently
tried in Salt Lake City, where every Nor
mon on the jury panel, IN answer
10 the question "Do you believe II right for
man To have more than one living and un-
divorced wife at the same timer" answered
unhesitatingly 'sYes SIR" The trial of this
case caused profound sensation through
ent the territory. The defendant, Rudger
tgawson, son of the bishop, and his two
wives belonged to the better class of Nor
mon society, although his polygamic mar
rlage had been notorious In the community
for months, no direct evidence was disclosed
until given by his second wife after short
imprisonment for contempt of court, for re-
fusing to testify. All the other witnesses
were examined, and there were many, in
cluding the immediate relatives of the par
ties, the president and other high officers of
the church. Every one, except the second
wife, disclaimed all knowledge of the mar
riage. Ciawson was convicted Before the
sentence was passed he declared judgment
should not be passed against him because
the laws of his country were In confilct with
the laws of God. The constitution he
said, expressly states that Congress shall
make no law respecting the establishment of
religion and antl-polygamy laws
were designed to- operate against
such marriages and were therefore
unconstitutional" This view expressed
by Clawson, the report says, is in
conformity with the uniform sentiment of
all Mormon people, but, while this Ia the
creed many Mormons are reluctant to en-
ter into polygamic relations. So the trial
and conviction of Clawson will probably
have restraining influence upon young
$3iormons. The commission urges vigor
oes enforcement of the present laws of Gov
ernment that have TO deal with people who
are wonderfully superstitious fanatics, de-
voted to religion and the sudden overthrow of
polygamy a. result of the enforcement of
the present anti-polygamy laws Is not to be
expressed. They recommend additional
legislation in the nature of amendments to
existing laws which they think will greatly
strengthen the hands of both the commits
sion and the courts. They express the
opinion that il is not unlikely that the fed
eral government will finally find it necessary
TO take into its own hands all power IN
Utah.