The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-09-28
Aormons Clinging Tenaciously
to Their Old Habits.
PolYeAMv A RELIGIOUS DUTY.
The Commission Recommend That
Work aud Proselyfes Excluded.


citizens thrse of whom were Gensles and
two Mormoas. This board made return
OF the votes cast Tor delegate 70 congress on
the 9Th of that month. when il was found
that John r. Game, q Mormon. had re-
oeiyed o.ia- votes. r. " Baskin ), ,ss4 votes,
and :. r. Thurman 5li votes. Caine was
given a certificate of election. With bat
one exception. the report states. there was
no charge Of fraud IN the conduct os the
election.
The commission has continued 10 follow
n the footsteps OF the first Utah commits
sion, which recognized the fact that con-
gress, in creating it, desired 10 use the best
endeayors 10 wipe out and exunguisn
rolygamy, and rs Jar as possible ali polyg-
amous influences and tendencies. With
this purpose in view, the commission. in
appointing registrars OF election. selected,
when ossihle. those belonging 10 the non
Mormon element, and always appointing a
majority OF the Judges of election, two out
OF three, from the Gensse class. In some
place, however. there were no Gentilss 20
Ill the positions. This course. the report
states, has had the effect of decreasing the
Mormon vote.
Touching the question of rolygsmy the
report says: Polygamy Is not at the pres
ent time openly practiceei, except, perhaps.
in few remote and out-of-the-way places,
but the non- Mormon element insists that
plural marriages are solemniEed dsndes-
timely and practiced secretly in the larger
eenters and throughout the territory. This
may or may not be true. The commission
neither afhrms nor denies, in the absence
of positive evidence. Doubtless many
u.
have practiced and never Endorsed the
practice OF polygamy, and perhaps many
of them do not believe in the practice, but
from the standpoint of their faith and
creed they accept il as revelation from
God through the Reveiator Joseph Smith.
and approved by their great president,
Brigham Young, and that whoever desires
TO do so should have the right 10 comply
with this ordinance OF the church. All the
laws forbidding the practice OF polygamy.
the report continues, the Mormons pro-
nounce unconstitutional.
There are grounds for the belief il is
stated. that poiygamy is stil taught by the
church as a saving ordinance, and those
who practice il are assured OF higher ex-
altation IN heaven than those who content
themselves with one wife.
Extracts are given from Norman papers,
showing that they still openly advocate
polygamy. That the teachings and practice
Of polygamy have not been discontinued,
as claimed by some, is proven, the report
says, by the fact that since September, 1888,
there have been in the territory OF Utah S57
convictions for bigamy, adultery. fornica-
ton and unlawful cohabltation, only two
being for bigamy.
IL plural marriages are celebrated. says
the report, it is done in the secret chambers
of the Temple. Ifpolygamy is practiced, it
is with the secrecy with which the burg
lar guards his HOUSEKEEPING and the thief
his larcenies.
Those convicted of polygamy regard
themselves and are regarded by their
friends as martyrs, and think it no disgrace
to be sent to the penitentiary.
The courts are commended for their vigil
ance and also for the mercy with which
their mandates are tempered. The COM
mission, in view of the present condition of
Utah as regards polygamy. does not think
Utah should be admitted as state. Should
it be. the commission says. ii would not be
long before the Gentle population, with its
advised civilization, its trade and traffic.
would be driven from the territory, and
the Mormon theocracy be made supreme.
The committee makes a number OF rec
ommeyiations. among them that the jur-
isdiction of all polygamous and sexual Of
fenses, without regard TO place, committed
within the territory, be conferred on dis
trict courts that the term OF imprisonment
for unlawful cohabition lie extended TO at
least two wears for the first offense, and
three years for the second; that it be made
penal offense for woman to enter into
the marriage relation IN polygamy without
knowing that a wife is living undiycrced,
coupled with a provision, IN cases
where polyPamous wife Is
called as witness against her
husband. that her testimony can not
be used in any future prosecution against
her, and a like provision as to the husband; (;
that persons who refuse 10 take an oath
that they are not living in polygamous re
lasion be excluded from making location
and settlement upon public lands; that the
laws with reference 10 immigration
OF Chinese and the importation OF
contract labor. raupers and criminals lie
so amended as 10 prevent the immigration
OF persons claiming that their religion JUS
tifies the crime of polygamy. that the con-
stitution be so amended as To further pro-
hibit polygamy; that law be enacted Gre
ating a commission, to consist OF the gov
ernor, the Utah commission and the secFe-
tary OF the territory, to apportion Salt Lake
City INTO council districts.
Ii also recommends that the commission,
in redistricting, cause TO be made an an
naal new registration, instead of reyisions
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 he redistricted. The
commission believes that the limitation on
prosecutions for polygamy and bigamy
should he extended and sentence 10 hard
labor added. that their confinement may
not be spent in idleness and gioriheation
OF their supposed martyrdom. The CON-
mission has no doubt that the punishment
of women for voluntarily entering into the
pclyeamous relation would do much TO
lessen the existence Of the peculiar insfitu-
tion.
In regard TO prohibition 81 immigration
the reT-ort saws: We forbid the imnigra-
ton into our territory Of the peage-ioving.
d0efle Chinaman, because We fear future
danger from bis coming. and forbid the
landing on our shores of contract labor be-
cause they cheaper the wages 81 American
citizens. and psupers because they tecoase
a burden. There is far greater reason for
closing our doors az = nation and forbid
ding citizenship 10 the hordes who are
brcaght here To swell the ranks % an or
ganized body which teaches ihefn IN ad-
vance 80 hate ogr government; which de-
nounoes our executive. lawmakers, judges
and prosecutors, and tnstilis into every
mind the constant teaching thai their RE