Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-11-14
VOICES OF THE PRESS.
The Movement Against Roberts.
(Boston Transcript

The near approach of the opening or
Congress seems to have set the pot OIL
agitation boiling at lively rate. ana
with method in t. against the seat
ing of congressman-elect Brigham H.
Roberts of Utah. Christian organiza-
tons such as convened in the large
mass meeting at fremont Temple,
Thursday night, are leading in the
matter. Miss Helen Gould. Mrs. Mary
Lowe Dickinson, Mrs. Margaret Sang
Ster, Mrs Alice Birney and other
women are lending hand. 1t is
claimed on behalf of Roberts that his
qualifications and position are perfect
ly legal and tenabe. 1t is dliiicult
however, to see how this assertion can
be supported in face Of the undeniable
facts. 1t appears that Roberts mas
married all his polygamous wives since
the Edmunds anti-polygamy law of
1882, or since the congressional anti
polygamy law of 1862, and, conse-
quently, his marriages have all been
made in open defiance Of law. Further
more, Roberts was convicted OF living
with plural wives prior to the amnesty
proclamation of President Benjamin
Harrison, Jan. 4, 1893. and of Prcsi-
dent Cleveland Sept %. 1894 for which
he was sentenced May /, 1889, and
served a term Of Imprisonment. 1t is
not denied by Roberts that he has
taken n new polygamous wife since
statehood, a Salt Lake City woman,
who has recently changed her name to
Mrs. Roberts. as noted by the Salt
Lake Herald. The illegality Of ms
movements appears to have been thor
oughly established. Part Of the penal
ty for polygamous practice as pre-
scribed by the Edmunds law of 1889.
eighth section, and reatfirmed by the
E,dmunds-Tucker law Of 1887. is dis
qualification to vote or to hold office as
an American citizen. Aside from the
purely legal aspect Of the case. there
is broader influence, which is the
chief impulse Of the present agitation.
The opponents Of Roberts think they
see in his election the beginning Of
movement to fasten polygamy On the
nation. Undoubtedly That is the dream
If the Mormon hierarchy. Few people
realize the extent of the propaganda
row being spread by them. The Nor
mons. it seems, have no less than l'Gp
missionaries scattered over the cnun-
try. vino are going from house Z" house
to make prosclytes. During 1891 these
gained 5000 converts. Thcy represent
thrve-tifths If the entire population of
Utah. which in 1890 Was 20. 0o0 Be
cause Of the obedience ana communal
rules If It's members the Mormon au-
tborities have a peculiarly autocratic
power which is especially exercised in
tul0nizat ton. Communities are sun
Piled with Thoroughly equipped col
onists on order, who. in every act. are
guided by the head u the church.
They sell their houses. lands ANA stock.
ii seems. without question ana remove
to any part of the country as The
church may direct. Thus the Mormon
church today practically controls Utah,
Idaho. Wyoming and Arizona and
holds the balance Of power in othera
great empires Of the West. where the
two great political parties are Of near
ly equal strength and where their vote
can be thrown in the balance 10 ac-
complish the most good for the church.
1t is of interest in this connection TO
recall the fact that in order 10 secure
the enabling act authorizing Utah To
form a state government that the lead
ers of the church in December. 1891.
made a solemn pledge that old polyg
amous relations should cease and that
no new pnlygamous marriages should
be consummated The time certainly
seems opportune to put a quietus on
prevarication. to show to the country
that the admission of Utah To state
hood really involved. as was claimed.
deathbloW to the legalZation of
pOlYgamouS customs.