Arizona weekly citizen., 1890-02-15
WEEKLY CITIZEN.
SATURDAY FEBRUARY b, 1890
q BILL TO INSURE PURITY OF
 ELECTIONS IN ARIZONA.


 The legality of the following act so far as it relates to Idaho, has been confirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States, and when that territory has been admitted into the union it will be i'm bodied in the constitution. This act is now before the senate at the instigation of Governor Wolfiey, and will undoubt- edly become ga flaw and be enforced be- fore the coming fall elections. While it may justly be charged that the bill is direct blow at the political power of the Mormon church, there is no one, dem ocrat or republican, that will not admit the soundnesssof, the principle involved; and no good citizen. Gentle or Mormon, will hesitate to take the prescribed oath. Iron-clad as it may appear, 1t abridges the rights and privileges of none who See in the constitution of the United States and the laws of the territory, the authority and power by which all Amer jeans are governed. Now, while this bill will raise a hue and cry from certain affected democrats, it will, we are satis- fled, receive the support of the pres and people of the territory. It is in the interest of good government, and as such We commend 1t to our readers. The bill was introduced by Senator Platt, read twice and referred to the committee or territory:
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House
 of Representative of the United
 States of America in Congress as-
 sembled:-
 That no person who is bigamist or polygamist, or is living ir what is known as patriarchal, plural, or celestial mar riage, or in violation of any law of the Territory of Arizona, or of the United States forbidding any such crime; or who in any manner teaches, advises, counsels. aids, or encourages any person to enter into bigamy, polygamy, or such patriarchal, plural, or celestial marriage, or to live in violation of any such law, or to commit any such crime; or who Is a member of, or contributes O the sup port, and, or encouragement of any or der, organization, asSOcIation, or society which teaches, advises, counsels, encour- ages, or aids any person to enter into bigamy, polygamy, or such patriarchal or plural marriage, or which teaches or advises that the laws of the Territory of Arizona prescribing rules of civil con duct are not the supreme laws of said territory, shall either vote, serve as jur- or, or hold any civil office in the Terri tory of Arizona.
 SEC. ?. That in addition to the grounds of challenge now allowed by law, any person offering to vote may be orally challenged by any elector of the county upon the ground that he is not eligible to vote on account of his coming within the prescription of the preceding section.
 SEC. 8. If such person shall still in sist that he is entitled to vote, and the challenge shall not be withdrawn, the board of judges of elections shall ad- minister the following oath or afiirma- ton to the voter: You do solemnly swear for affirm that you will support the constitution of the United States and the laws of the territory of Arizona; that you are not a member of, nor do you contribute to the support, aid, or encouragement of any order, organIza- tion, association, corporation, or society, which teaches, advises counsels, en- courages, or aids any person to enter in to bigamy, polygamy, or such patriar- chial or plural marriage, or which teaches or advises that the laws of the Territory of Arizona prescribing rules of civil conduct are not the supreme law of said territory; that you regard tn constitution of the United States and the laws thereof. and of the Territory of Arizona, as interpreted by the courts as the supreme law of the land. and that you will support and uphold the same, the teachings of any order, sect. or or ganization to the contrary notwithstand- ing, so help you God"
 SEC. f. That if the persons thus challenged shall take the oath or affirm ation as rendered to him by the board of judges, he shall be admitted to vote. and it shall be lawful after he has taken such oath or affirmation of said board to examine any witnesses touching his want of qualifications, but if he shall refuse to take the oath or affirmation so rendered to him, his vote shall be re- jected
 SEC. ,. That every person who. hay ing taken said oath or affirmation, states as true any maternal matter which he knows to be false shall be deemed guilty of perjury, and shall be punished by imprisonment in the Territorial prison for not less than one, or more than four teen years.
 SEC. 6. That this act shall take effect and be in force from and after the date of its approval.