The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-11-04
The Utah Commission Makes a
Very Plain Report.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Measures to Suppress Polygamy Tha,
Are Suggested By the
Document.

nual revisions OF the registra tion LIST for
the present year were duly and thorouphlv
made by the officers OF the board, and the
general election was held August Bird last
No person living in the practice of polygamy
was allowed to register or vote. nor was
any euch person elected or Commissioned
to any office. This point, therefore has
been surely reached, says the Commission.
that the name OF a polygamist cannot he
found on the registration lists and none OF
this class are holding Office. Nevertheless.
it is true that nearly all the officers chosen
at the last and in other preceding elections
are Mormons. live in polygamy, subscribe
POLYGAMOUs MARRIAGES
as of divine revelation-a law unto al,
higher and more binding upon the con.
science than any human law. A notable
exception, however, occurred in Summit
county, where the entire non-Mormon
ticket, including member of the House of
Representatives OF the Assembly was
elected. This Representative was the first
non-Mormon elected for many years. The
Commission refers to the recent decision
OF the Supreme Court in the polygamy cases
as a timely and valuable Interpretation of
the law. 1t is believed that there have
been very few polygamous marriages dur
ing the present year, but it is not regarded
as prudent to look upon this fact as indi-
eating anything more than suspension OF
the practice, resulting from vigorous en-
forcement OF the law, and not as an actual
surrender, occasioned by general and de-
cided
CHANGE OF SENTIMENT
regarding the doctrine itself. Indeed, it is
believed that If all the operations by the
Commission and courts should at ''once
cease, or even if a halting, hesitating policy
should take the place of the vigorous one
now in force, it is altogether probable that
plural marriages would again become very
general in Utah. A firm attitude of the
Government and the faithful execution of
the law sustained by public sentiment has
exerted in the past year repressive in
fuence upon the Mormon people never be-
fore experienced by them since their estab-
lishment in Utah. The course OF certain
polygamists, who have declared their inten-
tion Of obeying the law in future, thereby
incurring the wrath OF the church, is cited
as an evidence of internal dissension, which
although feeble. is an encouraging feature of
the situation. Every step forward by the
Government, says the commission, will
give
MORE STRENGTH AND COURAGE
to men who desire to respect and obey the
laws. single step backward in legislation
or administration will help the church to
crush out this growing spirit OF opposition,
and perhaps lose to the movement against
polygamy all that has been gained by the
passage Of the Edmunds act. The report
paws q high tribute to the zeal and success
OF the present officers of the Federal court.
Within two years eighty-three indictments
have been found for polygamy and unlaw-
full cohabitation. There have been twenty
three convictions, and forty-thre cases are
now awaiting trial. The great increase OF
1nf~~ he Eof(o of q
Lake City, resulting from the
PROSECUTION OF PoLYGAMY
cases, has made it necessary that the ap-
pointment OF an additional Judge should
be authorized by Congress. 1t is regretted
that the Prosecuting Attorney and assist
ant have found it necessary to tender their
resignations owing to the inadequate re-
mnneration for their services. The Com.
mission replies at some length to the alle-
cations that have been made by the de-
tenders Of polygamy that the prosecutions
under the Edmunds act are directed solely
against those who maintain polygamous
relations and that sexual derelictions by
other persons are not investigated. The
burden OF their rejoinder is that the law
was not directed against individual lasclvl-
GUS practices, but against the assault by the
Mormon Church upon the monogamic sys.
TEN. Little hope is entertained in view OF
the past action OF the Legislative Assem-
bly,, that it will this winter
PROVIDE FOR THE FILLING OF THE OFFICES
made vacant by the Edmunds' act. Not
the least obstacle in the enforcement OF the
law is found in the fact that the legislative
mower ia alIayed in all it's force and
strength against the decisions OF the peo-
pie and Government and no helpful legisia-
ton can be expected although the Leglsia-
ture is supported by the National treas
urv. The Commission renews all recon-
mendations contained in Senate Dill NO.
1888, which failed of passage in the House
OF Representatives during the last session
and in their report OF last year, anu suo-
nit the following additional recommends
tions: That
THE TERM OF IMPRISONMENT
forunlawful cohabitation be extended TO at
least two wears for the first and three years
for the second offense; that all persons oe
excluded by law from making location or
settlement upon any part OF lahu VI olS
United States, who shall refuse on demand
to take oath before the proper o1hcer o! ene
land office that he (if MANI does not 60
habit with more than one woman ~ na" a'ns
riage relations. and will support the laws
of the United States, or if woman tnaC
she does not cohabit with man haVins
more than one living and unwldowea "ne'
that the laws with reference to the !nhi
grafton of Chinese and the Importation u
contract
LABoRERs, pAUPERs AND CRIMINALS
be so amended as to prevent the immigra.
ton of persons claiming that tneir reasvn ,,sr
teaches and justifies the crime o1polysamy:
as this would cut off the chief sou[Ce o'
supply to the Mormon Church: Inc Iom I'a;r
mission say they have felt IL 70 De nnn.
duty to resist the general dehanu hauia "
;k~r
recommend legislation that wouiG plIse -
exercises of ali civil power in the hanes ~ tha
legislative commission, appolnted uy a,, e
President. until tre Edmunds act nao zee"
fairly tested. The hope had been larry ~
duleed in that the Mormon people wou'o
finally see their line of duty In yleiuins
willing acauiescence to the law puy .ne
suit has been a disapp'lhtlne"' ~
THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH
and the principal part OF their following nas
are concerned in the declaration oiten
pea ted during the past year by Ghe cn.s. n+l
officers Of the church, that it is Ene,, ~ ~,
tied determination. to refuse ooeu,; eI";n Creat
the law. Their persistent use o. IN" IN afforts
power and influence TO dele". .;thnnt the
from within as well rs from w,J their
church to put an end to polygamy anu anu s"1, to
persecution of those persons VINO aesmr E,,;s.
obev the law have convinced the oonile ~ ne-
sion that some more descislve pian w
duce the nolvpamous element ana ~ 10
respondingly increase that o. snt snt of Utah,
authority in the civil governments "a at this
should be presented to :4;en GGHs,t to the leg.
time for it's action. In addiCion ohove re-
fcrred to two Others have been sags.shl III hle
the appointment plan, making appo,adI@tIhee pond the
Idaho plan ,u,,auroRs
DIsFRANcHIsING ALL coNThinoi' ,,,
to the support OF a po!ygam1Sia !an niaos' enod and
There are objections to ,snd all snd'e # may be
to any that could be devaseu, Emission plan,
said for the Legislative e.. coh II the appoint
msnt plan, that all the officers, otts,1 ,n9,i remain
those by the Legislative Assemapt.S en- ~ be filled
undisturbed; that they are Az "a ~ now, by
IRON the body OF the people rsdsrai as al dow
agencies under control OF the