Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-11-29
THE UTAH SIDE OF IT.
Senator Rawlins Max es Statement
of Roberts Case.

Oh xtODcTtS SASes
Washington, Nov. Ex-senator Raw
Inns, of Utah, outlines the position of
that state with regard to the storm Of
public disapproval over the election of
Roberts, a Mormon with three wives,
to represent his state in congress. He
denies that the Mormon church em-
ployed deceit in order to be admitted
to the union, AT the time Utah was
admitted compact was entered into
whereby further polygamous marriages
were forbidden, but Senator Rawlins
says there was no agreement to ostra-
CHE and bar from Office men who had
previously contracted plural marriages.
He insists that Utah has sacredly
kept the compact and both in her con-
stitution and statutes has provided for
the punishment of polygamy. The
state, he says, has been raked with a
fine tooth comb for evidence of viola
ton of this law without finding single
instance. There have been some cases
of unlawful cohabitation, and these
have been promptly punished and sup
pressed. He vigorously denies the inn
putation that an effort is being made to
cram polygamy down the throat of the
nation or state. He points to the fact
that majority of the courts in Utah
are under the control of non Mormons
and objects to the injustice of keeping
out of Office class otherwise reputa-
BILE, inasmuch as further accessions to
the rank of Iolygamists nave been for
hidden. He continues.
But it is charged that the people of
Utah have elected polygamists or per-
sons in that status to office. 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
office, and under such appointments,
for almost three years these polyga-
mists have held and are now holding
important federal offices in the state of
Utah
If this be a violation of the COM
pact, both parties have violated it, the
president on the one hand and the
electors of the state on the other. AT
the first opportunity 1 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 in
auire into and to report to the senate,
ticed or polygamous marriages entered
into in the United States, or in places
over which they have jurisdiction.
20. Have poygamsts 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 purpose of encouraging poly
gamy, or in violation of any compact
between said state and the United
| States?
SO. Have polygamists or persons
reported to have more than one Wife,
been appointed 10 office by the presi-
1 dent, by and with the advice and con-
sent of the senate, or in cases where the
concurrence of the senate is not re-
1 quired. and il So have such appoint
uents been made in aid of polysamy
or in violation of the compact between
| the United States and the state OF
Utah with reference to that subject
-. What, if any, steps should be
taken, or measures enacted, for ths
i prevention of polygamy in the Unitec
States and in places over which they
4 have Jurisdiction - -