The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-29
state Has Been Searched

During the past year, the state has been
raked In search of cases of polygamy with
which to feed this new modern sensation
but no complaint has been presented against
any man charging him with this offense
Some cases of unlawful cohabitation' have
been prosecuted and punished.
80 far Utah has sacredy kept the COM
pact.
But 1t is charged that the people of
Uath have elected polygamists or persons
In that status to office.
" This is true in some instances and 1t is
equally true that the United States, acting
by the president, with the consent of the
senate, has appointed polygamists to office
and under such appointments 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,
both parties have violated it, the president
on the one hand and the electors of the
state on the other.
mo more have the people of Utah than
the president the right to cram polygamy
down the Threats of the nation or the
nation or the states. Such motive can
not be justly ascribed to either.
THAT poyagmists should be disqualified
to vote or to hold office was no part of the
compact between the state of Utah and the
United States. In territorial elections po-
lygamists were SO disqualified
Congress Wiped Out Disqualificatsons
"But congress purposey and knowingly
wiped away all such disqualifcations as to
the very first election to be held under the
enabling act, namely, the election of dele
gates to the constitutional convention. If
persons who happened to be in the status
of polygamy have been elected by the peo-
pie of Utah or appointed by the president
to office, 1T has been for other reasons, per-
sonal or political, and not to lend counte-
nance or aid to that practice.
Further accessions to the ranks of po-
lygamy being rigidly forbidden and out of
the question, it has not been thought nee
essary or quite in the line of charity to
keep class otherwise reputable under per-
petual civil or political disability.
when such person has been appointed
or elected, it is safe to say that no thought
of menacing the American home or cram
ming thds obnoxious practice down any
ones throat ever crossed the mind of the
president in issuing his commission or OF
any elector in casting his ballot
but the people of Utah are ready for
this issue. They propose to stand by their
pledges and keep absolute faith with the
nation, and they don't propose to rest I'M
der any suspicion to the contrary.
Now that this question Is raised, and
the Mormon sentiment of the country Is
alarmed, they propose to demand search
ing inquiry, and win be found rendering
full aid to any remedial measures deemed
necessary to give assurance to the country
that polygamy cannot live anywhere in the
United States or in any place over which
they have jurisdiction.
ITO this end at the first opportunity 1
shall ask the senate to pass this resolution:
The Resolution
BE 1t resolved, by the Senate of the Unit
ed States, That the committee on judiciary
is hereby instructed to inquire into and to
report to the senate first, to what extent
polygamy is practiced or polygamous mar
riages entered into in the United States, or
I'm places over which they have jurisdc-
ton.
"Second-Have polygamists, or persons
reputed to have more than one wife, been
elected to office by the people of Utah; and
If SO, has such election been for the purpose
of encouraging polygamy or in violation of
any compact between said state and the
United States.
"Third-Have polygamists or persons re-
puted to have more than one wife, been APP
pointed to office by the president by and
with the advice and consent of the senate.
or in cases where the concurrence of the
senate is not required, and II so, have such
appointments been made In aid of polyg-
amy, or in violation of the compact between
the United States and the state Of Utah
with reference to that subject
"Fourth-What, II any, steps should be
taken or measures enacted for the proven
tion of polygamy In the United States and
In places over which they have jurisdic-
zion