Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-28
NO MORE POLYGAMY.
Its Open Practice in the Territory Of
Utah Has Been Stopped.
ONLY IN THE SECRET HAUNTS
Is the Policy Advocated by Brigham Young
Still Pursued.
ALL PRISONERS CLASSED As MARTYRS.
Strong Measures Proposed to Stamp Out the Last
Traces Of Mormonism.

The Utah Commission has made a report
showing the present status of affairs in that
country. Open polygamy has been abol-
ished, although those imprisoned on that
charge are regarded as martyrs. Stringent
immigration laws, especially passed to catch
Mormon proselytes, are advocated by the
commission.
WASHINGTON, September 27.-The an
nual report of the Utah Commission has
been received by Secretary Noble. This
commission, under authority of Congress,
has general supervision of all elections in
the Territory, and is especially intrusted
with the enforcement of the "Edmunds-
Tucker act" of March 8, 1887. The report
says that the commission on November 8,
1888, appointed canvassing board of five
reputable citizens. three of whom were Gen
tiles and two Mormons.
This board made returns of the votes cast
for delegates to Congress Cd the 9th of that
month, when it was found that John T.
Cane. Mormon, had received 10, 127 votes,
R. N. Baskin 8, ,4S4 votes and S. R. Thur
mau oil votes. Caine was therefore given a
certificate OF election.
AN HONEST ELECTION.
With but one exception, the report states
there was no charge of fraud in the conduct
of the election. The commission has, con-
tinues the report, followed In the footsteps
OF the first Utah commission, which recog-
nized the fact that Congress, in creating it,
desired it to use its best endeavors to wipe
out and extinguish polygamy, and as far as
possible, all polygamous influences and ten
denotes.
With this purpose in view, the commits
sion, in appointing registrars of election,
selected, when possible, those belonging to
the nom n-Mormon element, and always ap-
pointing majority of them judges of cleo
tion.
In some, places, however, there were no
GentIles to fill the positions, and in these
cases Mormons were, of course, appointed.
This course, the report states, has had the
effect OF decreasing the Mormon vote.
Touching the question of polygamy the
report says:
THE STATUS OF PoLYGAMY.
Polygamy is not. at the present time, prac-
ticed openly, except perhaps, in a few remote
and out of the way places, but the non-Mor-
mon element insists that plural marriages are
solemnized clandestinely and practiced secretly
in the larger centers and throughout the Terri
tory. This may may not be true The COM
mission neither afirms nor Denies in the ab-
sence of positive evidence. Doubtless many
members of the Mormon Church never have
practiced and never intend to practice polyg-
amy, and perhaps many of them per Sc, do not
believe in the practice, but from the standpoint
of their faith and creed. they accept it as rev.
elation from God through the prophet, seer
ana revelator, Joseph Smith, ratified and ap-
proved by their great President, Brigham
Young; and that whoever desires TO do SO
should have the right to comply with this ord-
nance of the church.
All laws forbidding the practice of po-
lygamy, the report continues, the Mormons
pronounce unconstitutional. There are
grounds for belief. it is stated, that polyga-
! my is still taught by the church as saving
ordinance, and that those who practice it
are assured of higher exaltation in heaven
than those who content themselves with one
wife.
If plural marriages are now celebrated,
says the report, it is done in the secret cham
bers of the temple. "If polygamy is prac-
ticed, it is with the secrecy with which the
burglar guards his HOUSEKEEPING aud the
thief his larceny" The report says:
MORMON MARTYRS.
Those who are convicted of polygamy regard
friends, as martyrs, and think it no disgrace to
be sent to the penitentiary. The courts are
commended for their vigilance and also for the
mercy with which its mandates are tempered
The commission, in view of the present condi-
tion of the Territory as regards polygamy, does
not think that Utah should be admitted as
State.
The commission makes a number of re-
concentrations, among them, that iuris-
diction of all polygamous otfenses, without
regard to the place committed, within the
Territory, be conferred on district courts;
that the term of imprisonment be extended
to at least two wears for the first and three
wears for the second; that it be made penal
offense for any woman to enter into the mar
riage relations with any man knowing him
to have wife living, undivorced. coupled,
however, with the provisions that in cases
where a polygamous wife is called as wit
ness against the husband, her testimony
could not be used in any future prosecution
against her and like provision as to the
husband.
That the laws with reference to
IMMIGRATION OF CHINESE
and the importation of contract labor,
paupers and criminals, be so amended as to
prevent the immigration of persons claim
ing that their religion justifes the crime of
pOlygamy, Ludl Tue De
amended SO as to forever prohibit polygamy;
that a law be enacted creating a board to
consist of the Governor, Utah Commission
and the Secretary of the Territory, to ap-
portion Salt Lake City into aldermanic and
councilmanic districts.
1t also recommends that the commission
be authorized in its discretion to cause to be
made annually a new registration instead Of
revisions OF former lists; that Congress pass
laws for the government and conduct OF the
public schools in the Territory of Utah; that
as soon as the result of the eleventh census
is known the Territory be redistricted for
legislative purposes. The commission be-
lieyes that the limitation on prosecutions
tor polygamy and bigamy should be ex-
tended and sentence to hard labor should be
added, "that their confinement may not be
spent in idleness and glorifcation OF their
supposed martyrdom."
ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION.
The commission has no doubt that punish
ment of the woman for entering into the
polygamous relation, would do much to les
sen her zeal for the peculiar institution and
thus tend to remove one of the strongest
bulwarks. In regard to prohibition of i'm
migration, the report says:
While we forbid the immigration of the nom
proselyting, peace-loving, dOcile Chinaman, be-
cause we fear a future danc er from his coming.