National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-04-12
MORMON WOMEN IN TOWN.
Seeking Redress for Wrongs Correct
ing Evil rnd Sensational Reports
Ahout NTorn,ondoY,


ing Evil rnd Sensational Reports
About Mormondom.
1t is known to comparatively few people,
perhaps, that there is a commission Of Nor
mon women from Utah in the city. They
seek redress for wrongs, in the names Of
over 1900 ladies who assembled at
Salt Lake City in mass meeting March
8, 1856, representing the wives, mothers,
sisters, and daughters of the whole
territory. A RE PUBLICAN representative
met the commission by appointment
at the headquarters on Grant place
yesterday afternoon and confronted
four well-favored, agreeable and intelligent
women. Mrs. Emm cline b. Wells, the
editor OF the WOmdn's Exponent, published
semi-monthly at Salt Lake City, seemed
by common consent to be the chairman.
Mrs. Wells is the plural wife Of Gen. /. IL.
Wells, who was counsel to Brigham
Young. Mrs. Wells was born a
Puritan in Massachusetts,, but was
converted with her mother and
went to Nauvoo, ILL.,, in 1874, and was
married in Salt Lake City in 1852. DR..
Ellen B. Ferguson was born in Cambridge,
Eng. was married In London, and came to
this country In 1860, and went TO Salt Lake
In 1875, in consequence OF embracing the
Mormon faith in Illinois. Her husband
died in 1880, and both were Mormons. but
were never in polygamy. Mrs. Finely s.
Richards and Mrs. Josephine r. West were
born In the Mormon church Of parents who
lived in polygamy. They and their hus-
bands are all MOrmons, but do not practice
polygamy. They are young women, have
each been married several years, and have
had numerous children, and Mrs, West has
an infant with her.
In answer to a question concerning their
mission to the capital Mrs Wells said:
"Our mission to Washington at this
present time is to present memorials which
we brought ourselves, being properly ac-
credited, for the President, the Senate, and
the House. The first was delivered TO the
Chief Magistrate on April 3, when we had
an interview with him; that to the Senate
was presented by Mr. Blair on the 9th. lie
was selected because he voted against the
Edmunds bill, and is besides woman''
sufTraglst, and ex.Gov. Long, OF Massachu
setts, who is a sufTragist also, has charge oi
the document for the House, which has moi
| yet been referred to the judiciary commit
tee. In the Senate the memorial was al
lowed to lie on the table, and appeared II
full in the Record OF April ~
"Having presented your memorial, what
do you propose to do further in the mat
teri"
1--WE shall do all in our power to correct
the evil and sensational reports that are
daily being disseminated among the people
Of the east from the pulpit and by the press
! We have some books and pamphlets which
we will gladly give to inqulrers, and W,
invite investigation, and are ready L
answer questions
"What is the conditson OF affairs In Utah
that compel you to make this protest2n
"The Edmunds law, which was passed IL
1882" said DR.. Ferguson, "with view o
prohibiting and doing away with polygamy
has been the means Of inficting much suf
fering upon the people who do not com,
within the penal scope OF the law, through
the maladministration of officials. As vii
will be seen from our memorial we com
plain that young children are brought int,
court and piled with indecent questions
tender women In delicate health are aske,
impertinent and insulting questions Il
court, and many OF the leading men anC
priests Of Mormonism are driven into hiding
by the exactions Of the officials. Th
juries are composed OF men know
to be antagonistic to MOrmonism, an(
no Mormon is permitted to sit upoi
juries. The men and women living
in polygamous marriage have beef
disenfranchised, but homogeneous Nor
mons, men and women, still vote.
| is not true that the women vote at the die
tatlon Of Mormon officials. The ballot Is
secret and no one has any means OF know.
| ing how another votes. The Gentle ring II
| Utah." continued DIR. Ferguson, sis no
making crusade against polygamy, but 1:
agitating matters and moving for adverse
| legislation in order to get the local ant
elective offices of the territory unde
their control. The elective and Territorial
offices are now all held by Mormons
Should the ring succeed In disenfranchisin!
homogeneous Mormons, although greatl,
In the minority, they would manipulat,
territorial affairs to suit themselves. Al
we can do TO foil the political conspirator,
is to enlighten public sentiment on all thai
pertains to Mormons and Mormonism.n
In reply to question as to what mad,
the church Of the Latter Day Saints 80 fas
cinating TO women, Mrs. Wells resumed
"We feel that the doctrines are the truth
and feel like clinging to them at any sac
rifce. know there is more liberty 70
women In the Mormon church than In an,
other in the world. The women vote no
only upon all political questions, but upol
religious tenets as well. We believe In
pre.existence and future.state OF progress
sion, and the discipline of plural wives is
corrective to supreme selflshness. TIL
great wrong Congress is doing In enforcin
the Edmunds law is the breaking up o
families, the ruin of hearts and homes, an,
dlsgracing the women and making thei
children outcasts.
"Molmons believe that man can Low
more than one woman Just as a mother
love is not confined to one child" said Mrs
Richards. "My husband and talked til
matter all over before marriage. We bot
came from parents who lived In polygamy
but we were the children of the first wlve:
and no Mormon youth would marry a gil
who was not a good Mormon In all tha
the word implies. We were born an
brought up In the church, and when we al
rived at years Of responsibility we adopte
the faith us our own. We have seen th
power given the saints; that the Lord pros
pered them in temporal things as well as 1
spiritual things.n
Mrs. West Is the daughter OF an apostl
OF the church, and AYERS that II she had
score Of children would bring them all up
be Latter Day Saints. She Is enthusiast
about the superior principles OF her relil
ion, and says Mormons are not living Il
the present only, but for the glory OF etc
nifty, and are willing to make sacrifices hei
for the future exaltation.
Mr.. T. 8. Richards is in the city with h
wife. He is attorney for the Mormo
church and attorney for Salt Lake Cit,
and is here to argue a case in the suprem
Court.
Mr.. Joseph A. West is also here, with h
| mi 10 Ia