Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-03-20

| Clal AQNefllhef ph''0 ~"
this opening sentence:
oGoy Wells Of Utah was rightly aI.
ylsed in yetoing the Evans b'u whlch
was designed TO regulate pio o0,I,,
cutlons for polygamy 20 as pracuco'F
10 nulllfy them"
II closes IN these words
Ills justification of 1t is full OF sane
tlmOnlous appeal in defense OK the ul'
vine institution
The Kansas City World gives i's
Views in this way
zone OF the most remarkable yetoes IN
| history is that OF Gov. Wells OF Utah OF
the Evans bill, concerning prosecution,
arising from complaints OF the plural
marriage system,
"rhe bill provided. In brief, that no
prosecution should be entertained un-
less the complainant was directly con-
cerned In the result Of the trial. h!
Il was purely a Mormon measure ana
was carried only after a hard fight
Gov. Wells, himself a Mormon, sur.
pflsed the faithful by disappearing the
measure. He was not opposed "a u
because II sought TO protect and further
polygamous marriages but because he
thought It would be the means OF put
ting a stop to them altogether The
fear Of the national government, which
has been enlent heretofore, was what
prompted him to his action"
The total mlsapprehensIon Of the en-
tire subject--bolb bin ANA veto exhibit
cd In those paragraphs, would be al
most paralyzng n the cause Of IT,
namely the false impressions created
by salt Lake writer's and dispatches
was not taken into account.
The Minneapolis Tribune expresses
Itself in a long editorial from which we
take the annexed quotations.
''rhe veto Of the Evans polygamy bill
by GOV. Wells Of Utah Is noteworthy
concession to the public sentiment OF
the country at large. In his veto mes
sage the Governor virtually ayows him
self a bclieyCrin plural marriage
hus The veto, from the Governors
standpoint. Is not matter Of principle.
but purely one Of policy He fears to
arouse the indignation OF the nation
against the polygamists. No doubt his
action Is the result OF careful consulta-
ton and elaboration among the Nor
mon leaders. They are shrewd men.
They watched the ri'ing tide OF popular
wrath. as expressed In the newspapers
OF The country, and wisely concluded
that the Evans bill was going step
too FAR.
The ayowed object Of the Evans bill
was 20 protect persons who had entered
INTO polygamy before the compact abol-
lshing II, from malicious prosecution,
but the bin was 80 broad In It's terms
that, SO far as the State Is concerned.
new plural marriages could have been
contracted and polygamous relations
sustained with lmpunty. SO long as the
husband and wife and their near reIa-
tiyes were satisfied with the arrange
ment."
II Is evident that, like the other pa
pers mentioned. the Minneapolis TrIb-
une has taken It's colorlng from the salt
Lofe editorial paln'pot, The Des
Molnes Capital declares:
Instead OF being able TO congrau.
late The Governor upon his action IN
seeking to save the state from disgrace,
a reading Of the veto message reveals
that his action was prompted 10y no
fine frenzy or righteous Indignation
but simply by The belief that such
law might result In a 'deluge OF dlscord
and disaster which would be inmical
TO the interests OF the State. He then
seeks to combine sentiment and petit.
FORGERY. All OF which goes 20 show that
the viper OF Mormonlsm Is not dead. Il.
simply slumbers,' ?
This is the opinion Of the Kansas City
Journal: W
GOV, Wells OF Utah acted with more
wisdom than he was suspected Of pos.
sessing when he vetoed the Evans bill
The measure was plainly intended 10
legalize polygamy, in fragrant violation
OF the promise made to Congress before
the Territory was converted into
state. Gov. Wells makes II plain, In
the veto message, that his sympathles
are with those whom the measure Is
designed to protect"
The Cleveland Plain Dealer talks In
this way;
THE action Of Gov. Wells Of Utah In
vetoing the bill to put obstacles IN the
way OF enforcing the laws against
VIII 1t is hoped put an end
to what had the appearance OF an at
tempt 10 re-establlsh polygamy. Tn
der the provisions of the bin which
passed the Legislature a few days ago
IL would be practically impossible 10
bring a Tolygamy case into court. UNI
less by the action OF one of the parties
directly involved"
Thcio are many others but these win
suffice at least FOR the present Enough
has been cited to show that the real
purpose OF the bill and the true spirit
of tae veto are alike misunderstood
Also that the reason for that confusion
u mind Is easily traceable to the dust
and smoke raised around them by
agencies OF untruth In this city.
Those have always been the nucleus
IF The clouds Of evil that have, from
lime to time, spread over the country,
resulting IN the anti Mormon" tenn
pests that have conyulsed the nation,
We ago thankful TO say that. In recent
lines, no particular damage has re-
iuit d, aud 1t Is TO be hoped that this
storm VIII soon pass by, and that It's
breeders viii be understood for what
hey are. White their purpose will be ex-
posed to the detestation OF all just
people.
POLL TAN AND VOTING.