The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-09

continuance of polygamous relations as
well as the contracting OF new marriages.
Secondly the Utah Legislature. which,
in 1892 made unlawful cohabitation as well
as polygamy crimes against the territory.
"Tnird-By the solemn pledges OF the
apostles of this alleged church that these
laws would be obeyed and enforced. which
pledge was made in petition 10 the Pres
ident, praying for a general amnesty proc
lamation.
"Fourth-By the declarations made by
prominent citizens OF Utah before the con-
gressional committee having the enabling
act under consideration. where, also, the
foregoing evidence and statements were
used TO secure statehood.
"Fifth-By the declaration in the Consti-
tuition of Utah that polygamous marriages
| shall be forever prohibited.
'Sixth-The act OF the constitutional con-
vention continuing in force the territorial
laws furnishing unlawful cohabitation, as
well as polygamy, of which convention Mr.
Roberts was q 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 brok-
en-. we point to the following:
"First-That in Utah 1850 illegitimate
children have been born TO polygamous
wives since statehood.
"Second-That about two thousand polyg-
amouS households Eow exist in Utah, and
that the attempt to secure a punishment of
these offenders is denounced by the ma
jority, as we believe, of Utah's citizens.
"Third-That circumstantial evidence un-
mistakably points to the existence OF new
wives in polygamous households, the most
conspicuous examples of which are the
cases of Apostles Abraham II. Cannon.
John w. Taylor and Apostle Tuesdale, in
at least the first OF which the church or
gan of the dominant church refuses to deny
the marriage and the new polygamous wife
is employed as teacher in church acad-
| emy.
"Fourth-That the very men who inter
preted the manifesto Of 1890 to prohibit un-
lawful cohabitation with prior acquired
wives now publicly justify it's continuance.
"Fifth-That most of the same men who,
in petition for amnesty, pledged their
sacred honor for the obedience of the law
by their people, are now, by example and
precept, encouraging the commission of the
crime of unlawful cohabtation.
"Sixth-As a further evidence of this bad
faith. we call attention to the fact that
men holding high church office have plead
guilty to the crime of unlawful cohabita-
tion before the state courts without hav-
ing their church standing affected, even in
some cases having their fines paid by SYM
pathetic friends.
"Seventh-An this is, by necessary impli-
cation, indorsed by majority of Utah's
people in the election of Brigham III. Rob-
erts, who, during the campaign for cleo
ton, was publicly charged with being a
violator of the laws. as evidenced by his
illegttimate progeny, ana IN spite of these
undenied charges he was elected by an
overwhelming majority. That Mr.. Roberts
himself understood that compact to mean
the discontinuance of unlawful cohabita-
tion we point to his registration oath of
1895, In which he swOre il to be his inten-
| tion to obey the law prohibiting unlawful
cohabitation."
The foregoing is signed by T. c. Tiff,
SAT- Lake; G. W.. Martin. Manti. Utah; c.
NJ. Owen, Salt Lake; j. NJ. Coombs, Brig
ham City, Utah: A. T. Schroeder, Salt
Lake.