The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-12-01
IN DEFENSE OF UTAH.
Senator Rawlins Discusses the Attitude
of His Constituents
IN REFERENCE TO MORMON CHURCH.
lie Denies That Further Accessions to
Ranks of POlygamy Have Been
Countenanced and Pro-
poses Investigation.

oeudlOI rldWlluS VI Juan says.
1T is claimed that the Mormon
church, by deceit and fraud, brought
about the admission of Utah into the
Union so that behind statehood lines
polygamy might be practiced with i'm
punity.
Il was delegate from Utah in the
house at the time of her admission,
introduced the bill under which she
became state, and spoke in the house
in favor of its passage. Most of the
Mormon leaders had opposed my cleo
ton as delegate, and afterwards, until
the passage of the statehood bill,
had no communication with them
either directly or indirectly upon that
subject.
"The Mormon church did not speak
or act through me. OF course l referred
to their public acts and declarations
on the subject of polygamy, and told
the house l did not believe that the
practice would be revived, and if it
did SO, would not advocate Utahs
admission to the Union.
"The compact between the state of
Utah, at the time of her admission,
and the United States-that polyga-
nous marriages should be forbidden
was to be irrevocable. Utah, both in
her constitution and statutes, has
provided for the punishmeE of poly
gamy and all kindred offenses.
"No complaint has been 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 it is safe to say
that the entire Judiciary stand ready
to enforce these laws.
$50 far, Utah has sacredly kept the
compact. But it is charged that the
people of Utah have elected polyga-
mists, or persons in that status, to Of
lce. That polygamists should be dis
qualified to vote or to hold Office was
no part of the compact between the
state of Utah and the United States. In
territorial elections polygamists were
so disqualified.
But congress purposely and know
ingly wiped away all such Disqualified
tions as to the very first election to
be held under the enabling act, name
ly, the election of delegates to the
constitutional convention. If persons
who happened to be in the status of
polygamy have been elected by the
people of Utah, or appointed by the
president to Office, it has been for
other reasons, personal or political,
and not to lend countenance or aid to
that practice.
POlygamy Strictly Forbidden.
Further accessions to the ranks of
polygamy being rigidly forbidden, and
out of the question, it has not been
thought necessary, or quite in the line
of charity, to keep a class, otherwise
reputable, under perpetual civil or
political disability.
when such a person has been ap-
pointed or elected, it is safe to say
that no thought of menacing the
American home or cramming this OBJ
noxious 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 do not
propose to rest under any suspicion
to the contrary. Now that this ques-
of the country is alarmed, they pro-
pose to demand a searching investi-
cation.
ITO this end, at the first opportuni-
ty, shall ask the senate to pass this
resolution:
BE it resolved by the senate OF
the United States that the committee
on Judiciary is hereby instructed to
inquire into and to report to the SEN
ate to what extent polygamy is prac-
ticed or polygamons marriages entered
into in the United States, or in places
over which they have Jurisdiction
have polygamists, or persons reputed
to have more than one wife, been elec-
ted to Office by the people of Utah, and
If so, has such election been for the
purpose of encouraging polygamy OF
in violation of any compact between
said state and the United States;
have polygamists or persons reputed
to have more than one wife, been ap.
pointed to Office by the president by
and with the advice and consent of the
senate, or in cases where the concur.
renee of the senate is not required
and If so, have such appointments
been made in aid of polygamy, or ir
violation of the compact between the
United States and the state of Utat
with reference to that subject. What
If any, steps should be taken or meas
| ures enacted for the prevention o.
polygamy in the United States and In
places over which they have jurisdic
ton"
Yellow Fever Patient.
New York, Nov. 29.-The United
States transport Burnside arrived
from Havana with a case Of yellow
fever on board. The patient is P. E
Reider, 21, discharged soldier from
Reading, Pa.
As the holiday season approaehe
the variety Of attractive Novelties in
ereases in our store. We aim to carry
complete line of materials for fame
work, such as Wash Embroidery Silk
Stamped Linens, Stamped Denims an
CanUas Pillow Tops for outline worl
Germantown Zephyr, Sa1ony an
German Knitting Yarn. Shetland fos.