Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-01-03
SAYS P0LYGAMY IS DEAD
And That he War Against Mcrmonism IS
Misdrec,ed.
CONGRESS MUST DETERMINE
Sxbetber n Wan with More Than one
wife .. eligible 60 y scnt
In Congress.

In response 10 requests from the New
York journal and San Francisc Exam
liner. Governor licber ". Wells FUR
nlshcd the following tcrsc and we'll ox-
prersed contribution to the current
''i.obcris" literature. n the same op-
portunity Is given by the press 10 both
sides Of the controversy. the American
public viii be- able to discern the truth
In the midst ~ the mist which has been
raised around the simple question In
VOWED.
Mormouian IL alive and well but 20.
lyHainy II dead. Eastern people make
the mistake always NJ AHaociating IN"
two together. rs II they we're synonom,,
GUS They are utterly distinct ana
separate. The Mormonr have aban.
doned polygany or plural marriage 40.
noiutely. Lorenzo Snow. the President
OF the church. n firm In his determine
ton TO uphold the manifesto ~ tn" for.
mer President dlscontinuinE plural
marriages The laws NJ the church
viii not allow plural marriage Win.
out the sanction ~ the President aud
the President has declared that no such
marriages have been contracted since
1890 and that none will be permitted
IN the future 80 long ns he u l'rrai-
dent. MI. Snow n a very honorable
man no we'll ~ very rcHolutc one and
the American people may rely upon his
word.
The war being waRcd against Nor.
moniam II mindircctcd. Those engaged
In II are poor mnrkamen. Their aim
IL ~ bad AZ the spaniards'. Mormon
ism did not elect Mr.. Roberts The
Democratic party lid Il. Why doesn't
the Journal put the responsibility
where II belonEr7 Republican Nor
mons worked and voted against Mr.
Roberts and they resent the accusation
that II was Mormonirm that elected
him. The facts are that Mormon and
Gentle Democrats nominated and
elected him. and Mormon and GENTLE
Republicans nominated and voted for
Alma Eldfedgr. another Mormon but
not a poiyRnmist. Whatever glory at.
tnchca L. Mr. Rob.rtra election belongs
10 those who voted for him and those
who voted against him are not entitled
to any share In II. A justly might u
bc charged that the New York news
papers. Including the Journal elected
Mr Roosevelt ~ that the Utah Nor
mons elected Mr. Roberts,
Tho Mormon people are not seeking
10 rr-ertabli-h pniygnmy II Ia wrong
20 force thum M people into de-
fenhivc position on that question when
for elEht years II has not been Included
either In their teachings or In their
practices.
I think am safe In saying aH many
polygnmlHia voted against Mr.. Roberts
AZ voted for him. II N true that there
are some men IN Utah who had more
wives than on" at the time tho mani.
fcato u the former President was given
and who have continued 20 live with
their plural wives and support their
families ever since rather than Ia
abandon them. Even taking this class.
I do not believe any Informed person
VIII nllcgc that more than 81 per cent
Of them voted for Roberts
So that neither Mormonism, ~ such.
or polygamlHts, aH such. arr entitled to
the credit ur diHcrcdit ~ hiH election.
u was Democrats. 40 such. that elected
him. II ~ my opinion that the leaders
Of the Mormon Church would have
been pleased Ia see sir Roberts de-
featcd after the Democratic convention
nominated him,for the reason that they
forcHaw the result might be attributed
10 the Church, hut the leaders have
been NJ frequently accused NJ inter
ference In political matters. that they
wisely remained entirely neutral. take
INK no pati either Tor or against him.
Some of the lesser leaders In Church
AFFAIRS. who nfp active Democrats.
favored Mr. llnhrrtRH candidacy for
the reason that they deomrd II unjust
that men who are qualified ~ Mr. Hob
ettr n FOR political distinction should
bc drbnrred from Office simply brcaua,,
be- IL dlnchnrHlng moral obligations Ia
MS fnmllN This View n shared and
" stu held by a considerable number
OF MormonH, These nre not seeking IA
tehabilittte polygamN but they argue
mat mon who were pulyrhmlHta before
II was Inhibited ana have remained
such from motives NJ honor and self
respect and huHhandly devotion ought
not TO be- nrrclnded from office. ANA
that 60 preclude Thorn shuts ont some
of the nhlrHt men In the state.
MY own position N this lieing % re.
publican ! was opposed to Mr Roberts
on political grounds and being Cover.
nor NJ the state, | deemed h q duty Ia
warn voters against the COmmlNslnu nI
an act which might be- construed as "a
violation Of those solemn pledges bA
Virtue u which amnesty was granted