St. Paul daily globe., 1885-03-29

understood to be the head of a pretty large
family, having four wives, the fifth having
died some time since. Whether he has fol-
lowed the professed course Of some others OF
the leaders in putting away all but one OF
their wives is not known. The head Of the
church, Joseph Smith, set an example for the
Younger men when the law was passed which
NAV have been more difficult for some Of the
Younger men TO follow than was the case with
him.
''Nlr. Smith, our president" said Delegate
Caine, Mr.. Cannon's successor, talking to
your correspondent, ''set an example for the
other members OF the church who were living
in polvgamy as soon as the Edmunds law
was passed. He was living in new resi-
dence that had been built for the president
of the church and his family. He
had just occupied it, for though il
was begun before Brigham Young's death, it
was not finished when Mr. Smith became
president. When the law was passed he
called his wives together and explaining the
law as enacted said that he did not want to
be a w-brcaker, or to set an example of de-
fving the law, even though he considered 1t a
great in Justice. So he said he thought il
was best for their
MARRIAGE RELATIONS To END,
and that they should no longer occupy the
same residence. He gave his wives their
choice OF remaining in the new house to-
gcther or of going to the old one again, say.
ing that If they would stay there he would 20
back to the old one himself, or If they pre-
fcrrcd TO go TO the old one he would stay in
the new one. So they went TO the old one
again, and the president has lived entirely
alone and without marriage relations with
any of his wives since that time.'
''Have there been any polygamous mar
riages since the enactment of the Edmunds
law, Mr. Caiuef'
''Ony one so far as I know. And about
that one there Is to be trial next month -
"Then it looks as though the result of the
Edmunds law, II enforced, might in time be
the end of polygamy, does it uotf'
Perhaps. 1t IS pretty hard to say. Poly
gamy is not as widely practiced as is sup
posed by many people and its entire disap-
pearance from the practices of the Mormons
would not be a matter of so much momen;
as many believe"
"How many polvgamists are there in the
Mormon church, Mr.. Caine"
That can not be definitely answered, but
from what information have do not think
there are more than
THREE THOUSAND PoLYGANoUS FAMILIES,
or Ia other words not over three thousand
meu who have more than one wife each.
You see our women vote there. Well, the
report Of the commissioners who enforced
the Edmupds law stated that the law which
prevented polygamists, men or women,
from voting, disfranchised about twelve
thousand persons. Well, to be 8
polygamist of course every man must
have at least two wives. So when 5000
men are prohibited from voting of course
double their number are of course prohibited.
So that would make 1900. Then there are
some widows Of deceased polygsmists who
are prohibited from voting and few others
who are affected by the law, and besides that
some few cases where men have more than
two wives each. So think, taking this basis
OF $4,000 votes affected by the law, that 1t is
= reasonable inference that there are not
more than three thousand men who had al
the time the Edmunds law was passed more
than one wife each
And how many arc there in the Mormon
church uowl''
About two hundred and fifty thousand,
think. quarter of million; and out Of