The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-30
MORM0NS ARE
IN MUCH WOE.
Shows Last Marriage Is Sad
for His Plural Wives.
DOMESTIC LIFE NOT HAPPY.
Recent Troubles Of PoIygamIsts Who Be.
come Partial WItlwsTs by The Ieaih
Of First Wife.
DOMESTIC LIFE NOT HAPPY.

Presidents Lorenzo Snow, as we'll as his
more humble brethren OF the Church OF
Latter Day Saints. is finding his lot any
thing but a happy one 80 far as his do
mesuc life Is concerned.
Ever since II WAS dccretd by the laws
that the Mormon must cltaVe 60 one wife
anu set the others adrit. President SNOW
has been the cfutrai figure iu various
rather sensational incidents, While he mas
been an untailing topic OF conversation
In both gentle and Mormon circles
The law says, or rather the court inter-
prets ~ 10 say. that wife No. Is the legal
wife. Her death does not allow No 10
ADVANCE 10 the place of honor. ana the
first woman whom the man may bappen
10 marry after the death OF his first Wife
IL recognized by law.
President Snow has been said To bc liv-
ing in defiance OF the law and not with
his legal wife This report Is not true
however. Tor although ne had a nuuohf r
oi plural wives. the death OF his first wife
left him free 10 marry when he pleased
and he was held under no Obligation 20
the others.
Mrs Minnie j. Snow. with whom he
now hNes, IL "A woman Of culture aud re-
nnement, and was married 10 him after
NJ had been made a wd0wcr according
70 the spirit and Interpretation of tho law
One of President Snow daughters a
beautiful and high-brcd woman. ~ the
wife OF Morton French. formerly a resi-
cent or Davenport, Iowa. and the brother
or octave rhanett. the popular writer
This family connection is TO he further
strengthened bN the marriage OF Misa
Frances French. the youngest sister Of
tho authoresa. 10 son OF President SNOW
a Young lawyer OF high character and un-
usual ability
POLYGAMY GHOST WALKS AGAIN.
The question OF polygamy has been the
subject OF more discussion recently than
~ any nmc since the passage OF the Ia
Hlgu1 bpihhnds law
The passing OF the law lcgalizlne polyg-
amy and its subsequent veto by Governor
Wells caused no end of fierce c0mrnc M
a fDf ffrsGu
ton was shown recently in the drama tic
scenes that took place I'm the House of
representatives when "an act amending
section 1911 OF the revised statutes OF
Utah. lsSs. In relation 10 the making OF
complaints and commencing OF prOsecu-
tons In criminal cases was under con-
The bill provided for the same treat
ment or MormonS and gcntiles ia cases Of
poIygamy-although the crime bears
dlnerent name when gentle Is Tho Of
fender-and IL raised great hHe aud cry.
In an enort 10 put an end To polNgamY
Mormons have oftentimes suffered more
or less unjustly. The law meant tor the
good OF the many necessarily worked ser
ious hardships 10 innocent pcrsons-no-
tably the plural wives.
a man named McFa rland n member of
the House OF Representatives. had three
wives. When the statutes declared that
he must take the first wife. he declined
10 show any fdVCritiSm. and "frCr nrOVid-
ing for the support OF all the women he
left his plural family.
re Was SNESScu from me IeEfHlnt0re
last week in order TO attend the funeral
OF one Of his children who had died i'm
Idaho. Reaching the STATION and not
knowing whore the family lived. he in
quired and was asked ':'ls Mrs McFar-
land your wife," He responded Yes"
That answer alone made him liable 10 a
fine and imprisonment had any person
chosen to lodge a complaint against him.
An aged man named Farr who had ac-
quircd four wives was put In sad di-
lomma recently 10y the death of his FIRST
wife. lIc went about among the three
survivors i'm an attempt to persuade two
OF them to waive their claims in favor of
the third.
All stoutly maintained their equal
rights 10 recognition and each refused 10
discriminate against the others. The old
man had TO live all alone and. he soon
tired Of his empty house.
lie decided TO marry again at all haz-
ards. and last week chose a woman who
had no claim on him, valid or otherwise.
His marriage caused a storm OF disap-
proval from both MormonS and gcntiles.
That some OF the Young Mormons smart
under the conditions which membership
i'm the church places them and become
apostateS is true.
The children of the plural wives are
most TO be pltied. for thenr position is
most unfortunate. I'm Utah, however,
their status is not so igrominious as IL
would be I'm any other state.