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


church. from the first presidency and twelve
apostles down TO the least authority in the
church, were represented There were Off
GERS and members present from every state
ill Utah. and from all the country round
about. This manifesto was read to that
assembly, and Lorenzo Snow, the presi-
dent of the council of apostles, the next
highest authority in the church to the first
presidency, made the following motion
which was unanimously adopted:
II move that. recognizing MILFORD Wood
ruff as the president of the Church of Je-
sus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and the
only man the earth at the present time
who holds the keys of the sealing ordt-
nances, consider him fully authorized by
virtue of his position to issue the mani
festo which has been read in our hearing
ard which is dated September % 1890. and
that as a church in general conference as
sembled, we accept his declaration con-
corning plural marriage as authoritative
ard binding"
One year after, the church spoke again
on this important subject. October g. 1891
the first presidency of the church made the
following official declaration to the con-
ference. which was unanimously Endorsed
by the vast assemblage present:
Concerning the official report of the Utah
commission made to the Secretary of the
Interior in which they a:lege, During the
past year. Notwithstanding the manifesto.
reports have been received by the commits
sion of eighteen male persons who with an
eqI al number of females, are believed to
during the year, we have to say it is ut
terly without foundation IN truth. We re-
peat in the most solemn manner the decia-
ration made by President MILFORD Wood
ruff at Cur general conference held last &c
tOber. that there have been no plural mar
rages solemnized during the period named.
pOlygamy or plural marriage has not been
taught neither has there been given per
mission to any person to enter into its prac-
tiCe. but, on the contrary. IL mas been
strictly forbidden.
MILFORD WOODRUFF,
GEORGE @. CANNON,
JOSEPH T.. SMITH.
First Presidency of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints
4 Mormon Protest.
Representative Rodenburg of Illinois has
a petition to the House from the Mormon
Church at Beleville, Ill. protesting against
the seating of Mr.. Roberts.
Two Questions in the Case.
Rev s E, Wishard synOdical Presbyte-
rian missionary of Utah. arrived in town
last evening. and is the guest of Rev. G.
n Luccock. d. 327 East Capitol street.
With Rev. Wilbur F. Crafts superinten-
dent # the reform bureau of this city,
which has been given large attention to the
Roberts for a year past. in co-opera-
ton with the Society for Social Service
and other anti-polygamOus movements,
Dr.. WiShard called on a republican leader.
who thus outlined the case as il stands in
MS rItnd:
There are two questions: First. is Utah
entitled to representation? second is Rob
.Gts entitled to be representative? Both
questions he answered negatively. on the
following grounds: Utah was granted rep
resentatiOn on condition that polygamOus
practices should cease. The condition has
not been fulfilled. and so Congress is free
If the contract. and might not only refuse
representation. but even declare statehood
Itself forfeited
Dr. Wishard suggested that representa-
ton might also be denied because true
republican form of government required
by the Constitution, does not exist, but in
stead, real hierarchy, enforced by the
Mormon Church rule that no one of its
officers can stand for civil Office without
church permission.
The representative argued that whatever
might be said of Utah's right to represen-
tatiGn. Mr. Roberts had no right to be
representative for any state, having for
feited civil rights by his confessed crime in
1883 and having failed to keep the condi-
lions of the oath by which he would have
been restored If he had really ceased his
polygamous relations Special attention was
given to Mr.. Roberts claim that, even if
ne was debarred from office by this failure
to observe the conditions of the amnesty
and the oath. statehood Cancelled all his
disabilities, It was argued that his dsa-
bilitY to hold Office applied throughout the
whole United States and could be Cancelled
only by a presidential pardon. If it could
be proved, therefore, that he had lived in
polygamous relations since he took the oath
he should be excluded from Congress.
on this point DR.. Wtshard reported that
there was abundant evidence in the ia
nous twins born of one of his plural wives
about yeai ago, and also in the fact that
DR.. Maggie Ship was about year before
that Introduced to DR.. WiShard by Mr..
Roberts as his wife, and about the same
time changed her name on her sign as a
physician to DIR. Margaret Roberts" The
plea that a constitutional provision for
bidding polygamOus marriages only for
bids new plural marriages was also held to
be neither good sense nor good law. All
polygamOus living man and wife Is
clearly included, and the Mormon iegiSla-
ture interpreted 1t when they forbade
both polygamy and polygamous cohabita-
ton. Il law whose habiuaI violation Mr..
Roberts does not deny.
The representative considered expulsion
by tWo-thirds vote as an Inadequate if
not an impossible, remedy, ana dec AIRED
that the only question should lie between
declaring the seat vacant before or after
the oath was taken by majority vote.
An eminent ex-senator takes the same
ground as eX-Speaker Grow that whatever
would be good reason for expelling a
member, If the same reason exists when he
applies for his seat. is a good reason for
keeping him out" both counting it mere
boys play 10 let him in and then turn
him out.
The anti-polygamy leaders are daily ar
are here permanently. DR.. Josiah Strong of
the Society for Social Service of New York
IS expected today or Friday. Probably Rev
DR.. lief and Rev. VIM. r. Campbell of Salt
Lake City, representing the Utah Minis
terial Association MS president and secre-
tary, Will both be in the city by Saturday,
when Mrs. NJ. d. Ellis. representing the
national w. 6. T. T., which IL an import
ant factor will also have arrived The
Presbyterian and Methodist Missionary So
cletles of Women and the Endcavorers will
so be represented and last, but by no
means least, the Anti-Polygamy League
Quay's Case a Precedent.
If Senator Quay Is seated by the Senate
upon the appointment OF the governor OF
Pennsylvania It is probable that an inter
esting case will come up from Utah 1t is
understood that the governor of Utah
where there is a senatorial vacancy, taking
the Quay case as q precedent will irnme-
diat"ly appoint a senator from that state.
The person specified as the governor
probable appointee is Mr.. George O. Can
non. former delegate in Congress from
Utah, and who was prevented from taking
his seat in one Congress on the charge of
having several wives. which ne admitted
1t is said now however. that Mr.. Cannon