Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1885-05-21
President Cleveland ana Ths Chairman
Deieg alton.

Congressional Delegate John I. Game OF
Utah, John Taylor, son of the president OF tao
Mormon church, and John q Cannon, aon OF
sr-Congresaional Delegate Cannon, who COM
pose the delegation seutpy The Mormon church
10 lay before the president a statement Of tho
krieyansea Of the Mornans and present pre-
teseA adopsed by mass nnssStspg 81 Mcrt1ans
against the action OF the federal olficlals calle
~ appointment at The executive mansion
and were received by the president m
me library, The president shook hands with
MT Tame and was then introduced 70 Mr. Tav-
l0r and Mr. Cannon Mr. Game then read TIA
address 70 the president II states that tl,e al.
dress adopted by the Mormons on tho M inst !,
which mas already been published was not ia
sued at the dietatior OF the church authorities.
6at was . voluntarily popular expression
Came address sass
10 the exercise OF right guaranteed 10 then,
py the constitution Of the United States nearly
Abuo CITIZENS appeal to their fellow eftisens
tof lair nesting aud petition you for a redress
o. heir grievances The Mormon people have
foen p&nenb fofbearfng and long So er-
sng They hGgs not, will not be disloyal or isw-
aefying- They have steaifastly resisted what
hey believed to be unjust enActments but
.hey have not resisted, and win not resist the
Judgments Of the courts They maintain, how
ever, that they ought not to DO made the
Victims OF special legislation, enacted under
The form OF general laws
The administration Of the Edmunds law il
complained OF, In that II operates against Nor
mons only The courts have held that Nor
mona who have maintained the off~pring az
their plural marriages and recognized a. their
wives the women they eeponsed before the
passage of the Edmunds law were guilty OF It's
violation, and upon this ruling men have been
condemned and sentenced and are now under.
gong punishment, although they we're ready
and offered 10 prove that they had not scuha-
oited with more than ono woman
Very recently man, who was not 4
Norman who confessed 20 having Sc
dnced his wife's sister, was arrested upon the
charge Of unlawful cohabitation,n but was,
upon habeas corpus proceeding, released set
Tree by the chief Justice on the territory, who
held that the Edmnndr law did not apply 10
such cases. Tho Mormon people will endure
vastly more than the public conscience would
npeet o. any people, but they insist that tho
laws should We impartialiy ADMINISTERED ~
lsir aud impartial men, who viii not become is.s
allies Of an interruptions coterie whose sole OBJ.
ists's 10 pfuDAer the MorFnons Of thairproperty
sndlieerty. The women believe that the merci-
less crusade which has been waged aQainss
them is directed at their rtlgion. They know
mat the faith 10 unpopular, bat IN this respect
they ara but enduring that which has been the
common lot OF true believers In every age OF
ne world Their abiding faith in an oye-rul-
ing providence makes them confident OF the
ultimate triumph of their cause They ask
ont Tor lnssice- They recognize the fast that
Il 10 your dury 10 see that the laws enacted Iy
congress are faithfully executed Therefore
We, IN their behalf, respectfully ask that
You viii hear their protest and give
heed 70 their request for q fair
and impartial investigation Of the Utah sitna-
ton This " their protest: 1--WE protest
against unfair treatment on the part of tie
general government for the settlement Of this
Sexed question"
The president who remained standine during
The interview, listened attentively h the al
dress- and at its conclusion replied ''well,
gentlemen, AZ far a. the Edmunds Law was
concerned, l. Of course, had nothing
to do with that OF course, Il II nv
duty 70 see that il Is impsrually admin.
lstered, and 20 far as any appointments which
shall make are concerned, viii endeaycr To
give you the character Of mon who win SEQ
That the Law Is impartially administered The
presidents face broke into a smile As be con-
sluded; 4 wish you out there could be ike
khe rest OF VA
'An we ask rejoined Mr. Game. sis that
The law shall be impartialiy administered
You are entitled to that, and SO far a. am
concerned, | viii see that Il Is 80 will give
nese matters my attention a. early AZ possible. .
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