The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-01-05
RAWLINS TAKES PART
IN The ROBERTS CASE
The Senator Is Questioned BY Chairman Tayler Re-
garding POlygamy In Utah.
Committee Embarrassed BY Reference to Those PreSiden-
tial Appointments Argument Of Schroeder.

! Roberts should be excluded from
seat.
At this point a recess was taken until
o'clock.
The afternoon hearing was enlivened
when Senator RaWlins of Utah was
drawn into a discussion of poIygamy-
Mr. Schroeder had continued his ar
gument when Mr.. Rawlins interrupted
to correct a detail as to when GER
tain statements were given before
congressional committee relative 10
pOlygamy,
Chairman Tayler thereupon asked
Mr. Rawlins, VINO was once a delegate
from Utah. if it was not understood at
the time the state was admitted that
pOlygamy was at an end.
1T was my understanding, said Mr.
Rawlins, that the sOlemnization OF
pOlygamOus marriages was interdicted
by the Mormon church, and that thiS
would have a salutary effect IN ter
minating the practice. But 1 did not
hold out to congress that family rela-
tions already established would be
broken up
Mr.. Tayler asked if it was expected
that the law against polygaIny would
be violated.
Mr.. Rawlins answered that it was
thought there might be sporadic cases,
but as a general system polygamouS
relations would gradually terminate.
Would Utah Have Been Admitted.
DO you think" continued Mr.. Tay-
Ter. that Utah would have been adj
mitted if it had been understood that
in a few years she would send 10 con-
gress a man maintaining pOlygamous
, relations"
Mr.. RawIins said he did not think
congress believed the practice Of polyg
am, Quiz be continued The course Of
events in recent years had clearly
shown that the practice would end q
time.
Did you not believe and state at the
time" asked Mr.. Tayler, that the
polygamOus system was dead and
buried?'
Mr.. Rawlins did notrecan such state
menLs.
Mr.. TayIer read from the speeches of
Mr. Rawlins in those days to the eff
feet that while pOlygamy had only ex-
listed the world was progressing and
that the discussion was becoming an
cient history"
Mr.. Roberts here asked to put ques-
FtiOn to Senator RaWiins, and asked
Those Presidential Appointments.
" III DISK the SElldADL IA tiE AAiAAAaeF'
J congress understood at the time Utah
was admitted that the president Of the
United States would appoint to federal
offices in the state Of Utah men prac-
ticing pOlygamy?'
There was some question as to
whether Mr. Rawlins should answer
the question He finally proceeded.
saying that for years pOlygamy had
prevailed in Utah Under it many peO-
pie had established strong conjugal re-
latiOns and ties. But the prOclamatiC~
of the Mormon church fOTbidding fur
ther pOlygamOus marriages had given
general satisfaction and it was COM
monty accepted that the practice would
come to an end.
Mr.. Schroeder concluded his argu-
ment as to the historical aspect of
polvgamy and the law in the case.
Mrs. J. Ellen Foster addressed the
. committee in behalf Of the great num-
Der OF women interested in the case.
and who were not represented beford
the committee. She spoke vigorously,
+ dealing with the Roberts case and the
/ general moral interests it involved.
This concluded the days proceed
ings and the committee adjourned un-
til 1890 o'clock.