The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-29
IN DEFENSE OF UTAH
Senator Rawlins Says the Com
pact Has Been Kept.
A REVIEW OF THE CASE
Polygamists Have Been Appointed to
Office by the President-He Will
Ask for Thorough
Investigation.

Washington, Nov. Ex-senator Raw
Inns of Utah, for the present the sole
representative of that state in the SEN
ate, furnishes the following statement
with reference to the charges against
his state on account of the election Of
Mr.. Roberts:
TT is claimed that the Mormon
church by deceit and fraud brought
about the admission of Utah into the
union, so that behind statehood lines
polygamy might be practiced with i'm
punity.
II was delegate from Utah at the
time of her admission, and spoke In
the house in favor Of its passage. Most
of the Mormon leaders had opposed my
election as delegate, and afterward un-
til the passage OF the statehood bill
had no communication with them eth
er directly or indirectly upon that SUBJ
ject. The Mormon church did not
speak or act through me.
"Of course, / referred to their public
acts and declarations on the subject of
polygamy, and told the house I did
not believe the practice would be re-
vived, and that il I did I would not
advocate Utah's admission into the I'M
ion.
1.-THE compact between the state of
Utah at the time of her admission and
the United States, that polygamouS
marriages should be forbidden, was to
be irrevocabe without the consent of
the United States and the people Of
the state.
Utah, both in her constitution and
statutes, has provided for the punish
ment of polygamy and all kindred Of
lenses.
mo complaint has been or can truth
fully be made that these laws are not
enforced. All the members of the SUI
preme court and seven out of the nine
district judges in the state are nom
| Mormons and it is safe to say that the
force these laws. The public prosecut-
ors are mostly nom Mormons, and all
believe nti-polygamists.
During the past year the state has
been raked in search Of cases of poly
gamy, with which to feed this new mod
ern sensation, but no complaint has
been placed against any man charging
! him with this offense. Some cases OF
unlawful cohabitation' have been pros
ecuted and punished.
$50 far Utah has sacredly kept the
compact.
"But it is charged that the people of
! Utah have elected polyEamists or per-
sons In that status to offices.
This Is true in some instances, and
| it is equally true that the United States
acting by Che president with the con-
sent of the senate, has appointed poly
| gamists to office, and under such ap-
! pointments for almost three years these
| polygamists have held and are now
| holding important federal Offices in the
| state of Utah.
! IF this be a violation of the compact
| ,toJo
| ident on the one hand and electors OF
| the state on the other.
mo more have the people Of Utah
than the president sought to cram
polygamy down the threats of the ma
ton or the state. Such a motive can
| not be justly ascribed to either.
THAT polygamists should be disquali
fed to vote or to hold Office was no par
of the compact between the state O.
! Utah and the United States. In terri
| torial elections polygamists We're ST
| disqualified
| But congress purposely and know
ingly wiped away all such disqualified
| lions as to the very first election to b'
| held under the enabling act, namely
the election of delegates to the annua
convention. If persons who happened
to be in the status of polygamy have
been elected by the people Of Utah o.
appointed by the president to office i
has been for other reasons, politica
and personal and not to lend counte
nance or aid to that practice Furthe
accessions to the ranks of polygam!