St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-09-28
TAKE NO BACKWARD STEP.
Wise Recommendations in the
Utah Commi ssion's Report.

Utah Commi ssion's Report.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27.-The annual
report of the Utah commission has been
received by Secretary Noble. This com
mission, under authority of congress,
has general supervision of all elections
In the territory, and is specially en-
trusted with the enforcement of the
"Edmunds-Tucker act'' of March 3,
1887. The report says that the cOmmls-
sion Nov. 8, 1888, appointed canVassing
board of five reputable citizens, three OF
whom were GentileS and two MOrm0ns.
This board made returns of the votes
east for delegate to congress on the 9th of
that month, when it was found that
John L. Game, Mormon, received TO-
I27 votes, r. n. Baskin 8, 4S4 votes, and
s. r. Thurman sill votes. Caine was
therefore given a certificate of election.
With but one exception, the report
states, there was no charge OF fraud IN
the conduct of the election. The COM
mission has, continues The report, fol-
lowed in the footsteps of the first Utah
commission, which recognized the fact
that congress, in creating it, desired it
to use its best endeaVors to wipe out
and
FXTINGUISH POLYGAMY,
and, as far as possible, all pOlvgamous
influences and tendencies. with this
purpose in view, the commission, IN ap-
pointing registrars of election. selected,
when possible, those belonging to the
non Mormon element. and always ap-
pointing as a majority OF the judges of
election two out of three from the Gen
lille class. In some places, however,
there were no GentileS to fill the posi-
tons, and in these cases MormOnS were,
of course, appointed. This course, the
report states, has had the effect of de-
creaSing the Mormon vote. Touching
the question of pOlygamy, the report
says:
'Polygamy is not, at the present time,
openly pTactced. except perhaps in few
remote and out-of-the places; but the
non-Mormon element insists that plural mar.
tiages are solemnized clande stinely and
practiced secretly in the larger centers, and
throughout the territory. This may, or may
not be true. The commission neither atirms
nor denies it in the absence Of positive evil
dence. Doubtless many members Of the
Mormon church never have pracueed, and
never intend TO practice polygamy, and per-
haps many OF them. per sc DO not oeneVe IN
the practice. but from the standpoint OF their
faith and creed, they accept ii as a revelation
from God through the prophet, seer, and rev
elator Joseph Smith, ratified and approved
by their great PRESIDENT b rlgham Young;
and Ilal whoever ueSlTeS ~ w 30 HuOuiu
have the right to comply with this ordinance
OF the church
All laws fOTbidding the practice of
polygamy, the report continues. the
MOrmons pronounce unconstitutional.
There are grounds for belief, it is
stated, that polygamy is still taught by
the church as saving ordinance, and
that those who practice it are assured of
n higher eXaltatiOn in heaven than those
who content themselves with one wife.
Extracts are given from Mormon papers
showing that they still openly advocate
polygamy. That the teachings and
practice of polygamy have not been dis
continued, as it is claimed by some, is
proven. the report says, by the fact that
since Sept. /, 1888, there have been in
the territory of Utah 957 convictions for
polygamy, adultery, fOrnicatiOn and I'M
lawful Capitalization; only two for big
amy. If plural marriages are now cele-
brated, says the report, it is done in the
secret chambers of the temple" if
pOlygamy is practiced, it is with the
secrecy with which the burglar guards
his house breaking and the thief his
lareenies." Those who are convicted
of pOlygamv regard themselves and are
so regarded by their friends as martyrs,
and think it no disgrace to be sent to
the penitentiary. The courts are COM
mended for their vigilance and also for
the mercy with which
ITS MANDATES ARE TEMPERED.
The commission, in view of the pres
ent condition of the territory as regards
polygamy, does not think that Utah
Should be admitted as state. Should
1t be, the commission says. lit would
not be long before the Gen tile element
with its advanced civilization, its trade
and its traffic would be driven from the
territory and the Mormon theocraey be
made supreme The commission makes
O number of recommendations, among
them, that Jurisdiction of all
polygamOus and sexual offences,
without regard to the place
committed, within the territory, be con-
ferred on the district court: that the
term of Imprisonment for unlawful co
habitatiOn be extended to at least two
years for the first Offense, and three
years for the second: that it be made
penal offence for any woman to enter
into the marriage relation with any
man knowing him to have wife living,
undivOrced, coupled, however, with the
provision that in cases where polyga-
nous wife is called as witness against
the husband, her testimony could not
be used in any future prosecution
against her. and like provision as to
the husband: that no person who re-
fuses to take an oath that he or she is
not cOhabiting with more than one huS-
band or wife, in the marriage relation,
RS the case NAV be, shall be excluded
from making location and settlement
upon the public lands; that the laws
with reference to immigration of
Chinese, and the importation of con-
tract labor, pduperS and criminals, be
SO amended as to prevent the immigra-
ton of persons claiming that their
RELIGION JUSTICES THE CRIME
of polygamy: that the constitution
should be amended so as to forever pro-
hibit polygamy; that law be enacted
creating board to consist of the gov
ernor, Utah commission and the secre-
tary of the territory to appOrtiOn Salt
Lake City into aldermanic and council
manic districts. 1t also recommends
that the commission be authorized in its
discretion to cause to be made annually
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 re-
districted for legislative purposes. The
commission believes that the limitation
on prosecutions for polygamy and
bigamy should be extended and SEN
tence to hard labor should be added
I'that their confinement may not be
spent in idleness and Qualification of
their supposed martyrdom." The COM
mission has no doubt that punishment
of the woman for voluntarily entering
into the polygamOus relation, would do
much to lessen her zeal for the peculiar
Institution. and thus tend to remove
one of the strongest buIWarks. IN