The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-09

Ineligible beeause he is Mormon, but
I solely because he Is violating and de-
! flying the laws Of our state, OF the
! United States and OF common &C.
cency.
Ex-Congressman W. H. King was,
| and is a Mormon, and no claim of in
| eligibility was ever made against him.
We point to this fact as showing that
| we oppose Mr.. Roberts not upon the
ground of our religious opinions en-
tered by him, but because OF his crlmi-
nal practices. Neither Is this matter
of religious or political persecution or
prejuuice The undersigned include
| men of different churches and men who
| belong to no church, those who are
republicans and those who are demo-
Gratis.
| Mr.. Roberts denies and we assert that
the compact between Utah and the
| other states has been violated; that
| compact was evidenced by many pub
lie acts as follows:
| First, by the manifesto Of the Nor
mon church in 1890, which, by their
Leading men was interpreted under oath
to prohibit the continuance OF poly
| gamous relations as well as the con-
| tractlng of new marriages.
| Second, by the Utah legislature.
| which, in 1892, made unlawful cohabi-
| tation as well as polygamy crimes
against the territory.
| 1AiIu, ny the SOlElNll pleuSeS VI lliS
| apostles of this alleged church that
| these laws would be obeyed and en-
forced, which pledge was made in a
petition to the president praying for
| general amnesty proclamation.
Fourth, by the declarations made ~
prominent citizens Of Utah before the
! congressional committee having the en-
abling act under consideration, here
| also the fore going evidences and state
ments were used to secure sta chood.
Fifth, by the declaration In the con-
stitution Of Utah that polygamouss mar
| Sixth, the act of the constitutional
convention continuing in force the ter
| ritortal laws Furnishing unlawful cohab-
| itation as well as polygamy. Of which
| convention Mr.. Roberts was a member.
All these public acts combined show
| conclusively that the compact includes
| the discontinuance of old polygamous
| relations, as well as the prevention OF
new ones.
| AS evidence that this compact has
been broken we point to the following:
First, that in Utah 1000 illegitimate
| children have been born to polygamous
| wives since statehood.
Second, that about 1000 polygamous
households now exist in Utah and that
| the attempt to secure punishment of
these offenders is denounced by the
| majority, as we believe, Of Utahs cit
liens.
Third, that the circumstantial evil
dence Enthusiastically points to the exist
ence of new wives in polygamous
households, the most conspicuous ex-
amples of which are the cases of Apos-
| ties Abraham II. Cannon, John W.
Taylor and Apostle Truesdale.
Fourth, that the very men who in
| terpreted the manifesto of 1900 to pro-
| hibit unlawful cohabtation with prior
| acquired wives now publicly justify its
| continuance.
Fifth, the most of the same men who
| in a. petition for amnesty pledged their
| sacred honor for the obedience of the
! law by their people are now by exam
| pie and precept encouraging the COM
mission of the crime of unlawful CO.
habitation.
| SIXTH as a further evidence of this
bad faith we call attention to the fact
| that the men holding high church Of
fees have pleaded guilty to the crime
| of unlawful Capitalization before the
| state courts without having their
church standing affected, even in some
cases having their fines paid by SYM
pathetic friends.
Seventh, all this is by necessary i'm
piication indorsed by the majority Of
Utah's people in the election of Brig
| ham H. Roberts, who, during his cam
paign for election, was publicly charged
| with being a yiolator of the laws, as
evidenced by his illegitimate progeny,
and in spite Of these undenied charges
he was elected by an Overwhelming
majority.
| That Mr.. Roberts himself understood
that compact to mean the discontinue
| ance Of unlawful cohabitatlon, we point
! to his registration oath Of 1895. in
which he swore 1t to be his intention to
obey the law prohibiting unlawful CO.
| habitation.
T. C. ILIFF. Salt Lake.
G. w. MARTIN, Manti. Utah.
c. NJ OWEN. Salt Lake.
j. NJ. COOMBS. Brigham City.
| u, CGIpOEIlER Sail I.alre