The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-09-22
WHO MAY VOTE.


In response to the queries which
seem to be arising in the minds of
some people as to the scope of the
second section of the Enabling Act, we
have to say. that there is no dubiety
about it. Every male citizen of the
United States who is twenty-one years
of age and has resided in this territory
one year next preceding the election,
may register and vote for delegates to
the constitutional convention, and may
act as a delegate. if elected, to that
convention.
The Enabling Act supersedes all for
mer provisions of law in relation to
elections in Utah. so far as they would
have affected the election for such del
egates. But it does not change in
any way the qualifications of voters
for the general election at which Del
egate to Congress and territorial and
other officers are to be elected. Both
elections occur on the same day, but
thew are separate and distinct cleo
tons. and to vote at both a citizen
must be registered for each.
A male citizen who has been convic-
Act NAV vote at the election for Del
egates to the Constitutional Conven-
ton, and may act as one of the Dele
gates. if elected but he cannot vote at
the general election. unless he can take
the oath provided for in the Edmunds-
Tucker Act as formulated by the Utah
Commission.
The Harrison amnesty, after referr-
ing to the changed conditions in Utah,
and the petition of the church author
titles for amnesty. concludes thus:
Now. therefore. 1. Benjamin Harri.
son, President of the United States, do
virtue of the powers in me vested, do
hereby declare and grant full amnesty
and pardon to all persons liable to the
penalties of said act by reason of I'M
lawful cohabitation. under the color of
polvgamous or plural marriage who
since November. l. 1880. abstained from
such Capitalization. but upon the express
condition that they shall in the future
faithfully obey the laws of the United
States hereinbefore named. and not
avail themselves of the clemency here
by offered will be vigorously prosecu-
tew. (Signed).
this has no reference whatever to the
franchise. 1t affects only the liability
of persons to certain penalties under
the criminal law The Enabling Act
changes the qualifications of voters
from those prescribed in former Acts
of Congress. so far as the election for
delegates to the constitutional conven-
ton is concerned. The amnesty cuts
no figure in that at ALL Directly it has
no bearing upon the qualifications of
voters at any other election. 1t is sim
ply amnesty for criminal offenses I'M
der certain conditions.
But the Utah Commission have
slightly changed the oath to be taken
for the general election, so as to read:
And l further swear that 1 am not
a bigamist or polygamist and that
have not been convicted of any crime
for which / have not been pardoned or
&c. Therefore if any per-
son who has been convicted of
practices, and has
been pardoned or amnestied, Ell
Their specially or under gen
eral grant and can take the oath
in other respects. he can also vote at
the general election.
careful analysis of the so-called
however. will show that its
effects upon registration and voting
amount to a cipher. or at least to an
unknown quantity. Voters at the cleo
ton for delegates to the Constitutional
need pay no attention to
it. The real amnesty for them, in
which there is no sham and no ambig-
uity. is the second section Of the Enab-
ling Act, which is Democratic,
and includes every
male citizen of proper age and resi-
dence In Utah. without reference to
other present or previous conditions.