The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-29
RAWl|NS DEFENDS UTAH.
Election Of Roberts Was Not De-
signed In Any Way 60 Advance
the Cause Of Polygamy-E~ VIII
Ask . senate investigators.

WASHINGTON, Nov. Ex-senator Raw
lins, OF Utah. for the present the sole rep
rssentative OF that state in the senate. .ir-
nashes the following statement with refer
ence TO the charges agains- his state On
account of the election OF Mr. Roberts:
1T is claimed that the Mormon church.
by deceit and fraud. brought about the
admission OF Utah into the Union, 50 that
behind statehood lines polygamy might be
pracuced with iInpunity.
I was delegate from Utah at the time
of her admission under which she became
a state, and spoke in the house III favor of
its passage. Mos; o. the Mormon leaders
had opposed my election as delegate, and
afterwards. until the passage OF the state
hood 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 polyg-
amy. and told the house / did not believe
the practice would be revived. and that.
Il | did So 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 10 be irreyocahle
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
polygamy and all kindred offenses.
No complaint has been or can truth
fully 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 prosecutors are mostly nom
Mormons. and all. l believe. anti-polyg-
amists.
During the past year the state has been
2kssd In, Of nf Ui
which to feed this new modern sensation.
but no complaint has been placed against
any man. charging him with this ofsense.
Some cases of unlawful cohahiiatiou'
have been prosecuted and punished.
80 far Utah has sacredly kept the COM
pact.
But 1t is charged that the people OF
Utah have elected polygamists or persons
In that status TO Offices
This Is true in some instances. and Il
is equally true that the United States. act
ing by the president, with the consent OF
the senate. has appointed poygamists to
office. and under such appointments for
almost three years these polygamists have
held and are now holding important Fed
erai Offices in the state of Utah.
IF this be violation OF the compact,
both parties have violated II. the president
on the one hand and electors Of the state
on the other.
the president sought 10 Grain poiygamy
down the throats of the nation or the state.
Such a motive cannot be justly as
cribed TO either.
THAT poiygamis,s should be disqualified
10 vote or to hold Office was no part of
the compact between the state OF Utah
and the United States. In territorial cleo
tons polygamists were so disqualified
But congress purposeiy and knowingly
wiped away all such dlsQualifications as
to the very first election to be held under
the enabling act, namely, the election OF
delegates to the constitutional convention.
II napnRnp1 n m
status of poiygamy have been elected by
the people OF Utah or appointed by the
president TO Office It has been for other
reasons. political and personal. and not 10
lend countenance or aid TO that practice.
Further accessions to the ranks OF polyg-
amy being rigidly forbidden and out OF
necessary or quite in the line OF charity
TO keep c.ass otherwise reputable under
perpetual civil or political disability.
When such person has been appointed
or elected IL Is safe To say that no thought
OF merac!ng the American home or OF
examining this obnoxious practic. 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 question is raised. the
moral sentiment OF the country Is alarmed.
they propose 20 demand a searching fnvss-
tigation. and will! be found rendering full
aid to any remedial measure deemed neces-
sary to give assurance 10 the country that
polygamy cannot live anywhere I'm the
United States or In any place over which
they have Jurisdiction. To this end at
the first opportunity. / shall ask the senate
20 pass this resolution:
Re Il resolved by the senate OF the
United States that the committee on tu-
dietary is hereby instructed TO inquire into
and 20 report 10 the senate:
'First-ro what extent polygamv Is
practiced or polygamous marriages entered
into In the United States or in places over
which they have jurisdiction.
g 'Second-Hsve polygamists or persons
repDted 20 have more than one wife heen
elected TO office by the people of Utah.
and If So such election for the pur.
pose of encouraging poiygamy or In viola
tion Of any compact between said state
and the United Statese
'Thiri-Have posygamiRts. or persons
reputed TO have more than one WIFE been
appointed to Office by the president by
and with the advice and consent OF the
senate, or in Eases where the concurrence
Of the senate Is not required and n So
have such appointments been made in aid
OF poIygau1y or IN violation Of the COM
ract between the United States ana tire
state of Utah, with reference to that SUBJ
iect.
:" 'Fourth-W hat. II any. stems should be
taken measures enacted fer the urevcn-
tion ~ polygamy in the United States and
in places over which they hav. tur,s:ic-
tinn 49,