Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-29


or act through me-
"Of course, I referred to their public acts
and declarations on the subject of poly
gamy and told the House l did not believe
that pr lctice would be revived, and if | did
so believe, l would not advocate Utah's
admission into the Union.
The compact between the state of Utah
at the time of her admission and the
United states, that polygamouS marriages
should be forbidden was to be irrevocable
without the consent of the United States
and the people of the state,
Utah, both in her constitution and stat
utes, has provided for the punishment Of
poiygamy and all kindred offenses. No
complaint has been made or can truthfully
be made that these laws are not enforced.
All the members of the supreme court and
seven out of the nine district judges in the
state are non-Mormons, and 1t is safe to
say that the entire Judiciary stand ready to
enforce these laws. The public prose-
cutors are mostly non-Mormons, and all,
believe, anti-pOlygamists. 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 charg-
ing MIN with this offense- Some cases OF
unlawful coha bitation' have been prose
cuted and punished. So far Utah has sa-
crediy kept the compact.
Election of PoIygamists.
|. But it is charged that the people of
Utah have elected polygamists or persons
III lldt status TO once.
This is true in some instances, and it is
equally true that the United States, acting
by the President with the consent of the
Senate has appointed polygamists to Of
flee. and under such appointments for al
most three years these polygamlsts nave
held and are now holding Important TED
eral offices in the state of Utah. II tins be
violation of the compact both parties
have violated it, the President on the one
hand and the electors of the state on the
other. No more have the people of Titan
II an the President ought to cram pc yg-
amy down the throat of the nation or the
state. Such a motive cannot be justly as
cribed to either.
Not Disqualified by the Compact.
That polygamists 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
pOlygamfsts were disqualified.
But Congress purposely and knowingly
wiped away all such Disqualification 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 I" be IN the status
of poygamy have been elected by the peO-
pie of Utah or appointed by the President
to office it has been for other reasons. per
sonal or political, and not to lend couute
nance or aid to that practice.
Further accessOns to the ranks of po-
iygamy being rigidly forbidden, and out of
the question. il has not been thought neCes-
sary. or quite in the line of charity to keep
a class otherwise reputable under per
petual civil or political disability.
when such a person has been appointed
or elected it is safe to say that no thought
of menacing the American home or of
examining this obnoxious practice down any
ones throat ever crossed the mind of the
President in issuing his commission or Of
amy eIector in casting his ballot.
But the people of Utah are ready for
h ~ IT,,
pledges and keep absolute faith with the
nation, and they do not propose to rest un-
der any suspicion to the contrary.
Now that this question is raised. and
the moral sentiment of the country is
alarmed, they propose to demand a search
ing investigation, and viii be found render
ing full aid to any remedial measures
deemed necessary to give assurance to the
where in the United States or in any place
over which they have jurisdiction.
Proposed Investigation.
ITO this end at the first opportunity I
shall ask the Senate TO pass this resolu-
ton:
BE it resolved by the Senate Of the
United States. that the committee on judi
ciary is hereby instructed to inquire into
and report to the Senate: First. To what
extent polygamy IS practiced or polyga-
nous marriages entered into in the United
States or in places over which they have
jurisdiction.
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 pIlr-
pose OF encouraging polygamy or in viola
ton Of any compact between said state and
the United States.
Third. Have polygamtsts. or persons re-
puted to have moro than one wife, been
appointed 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, if so. have such
appointments been made in aid of polvga-
my or in violation OF the compact between
the United States and the state of Utah
with reference to that subject
Fourth. What. If any, steps should be
taken or measures enacted for the preven-
ton of pOlygamy in the United States and
in places over which they have jurisdic-
ton"