Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-04-03
EDITION

prosecuting attorneys In many counties
In Utah have Automatically used thu
dictum 10 close the incident. This law
is a dead letter in Utah, and more than
one ollcff has used the "no-sentiment
plea 70 cover his lnaction
This same Roberts, an aYowed and
notorious polygamist was running foi
Congress In 1895 and It was publicly ar
gued on the stump, as a reason for his
election that Congress might decide
that polygamy was It state question
with which that body had nothing "a
do" In view Of such a decision the
whole question would revert to the po'
ygamists, and their troubles would
end.
This gentleman was elected 10 Con-
gress by large majority. The attempt
to thrust that polygamst upon Con-
gress aroused the American people OF
Utah. and Of the other states, They
understood that If this were accom-
plished our Constitution would be prac-
tically nuihed and further trampled in
the dust.
During a heated conflict. as intimated
above. with the yiolators Of law, a mum
Der of polygamists We're arrested, tried
in the courts and fined They had at
tempted 10 conceal their crime and had
boldly denied the existence Of polyga-
nous living, The execution Of the law
In the cases that could be brought 70
trial, brought out an array OF facts in
volvlng the cnmlnalIty Of many of the
leaders Of the Church.
The term "crme" is here used ad;
visedly. There was the evidence IN
every instance for the crime Of adult
terry. children having been born TO the
plural wives of the accused. But the
prosecutions. In the cases brought to
trial. were limited to the misdemeanor
unlawful cohabltation. II is because
this evidence for adultery Is always
present that we petition TO have 'polyg,
amy" and "polygamous cohabltauon
declared to be crimes; for according 10
the Mormon" idea, the celestial mar
riage" Is not contaminated without the
commission Of the crime. quotation IS
here made from a, statement or loyal
citizens given TO the public in cQnnec-
lion with the Roberts contest viz
ut Is well known that statehood was
granted TO Utah on the specific condi.
ton that the practice of polygamy ana
unlawful cohabitation should entirely
cease In the sworn testimony OF the
President and leaders OF the Church
they pllghted their sacred
honor that polygamous relations az
ready contracted should absolutely
cease. Have they kept their promises
Let the facts speak Lorenzo Snow,
now President (since deceasedl OF
The Mormon Church. has had
nine wives. Among those SIN
living fwhen this statement was
made, is his legal wife Sarah Snow
fsee Utah Reports Vol. ", page 2S2.
case OF the United States against
snow) vet he Is cohabitlng with
younger woman, Minnie Jensen Nv
name. who bore him a child IN lSsl
Anostles Joseph r. Smith, Heber j.
Grant. John w. Taylor, brigham
Young. Jr.. John Henry Smith and
NJ W. Merrill. and Angus NJ. Cannon
president Of the stake Lake STAKE are
all open and defiant polygamists To-
day"
Indeed there has never been an nom
est purpose TO obey either the law or
the Constitution The prosecuting at
torney in Davis county declined TO
prosecute a notorious polyganist' on
the ground that there was no senti-
ment in the county demanding the
prosecution Of a man Tor adultery
The sentiment Is all the other way
The citizen or officer In Titan VINO eS-
tablishes an information against
polygamist has blasted his reputation
and lost his standing in his community
The most pronounced defiance OF law
took place IN the last Legislature Of
the state. Mr. Evans, a member OF
the senate, offered and defended
bill: the distinct and ayowed aim OF
which was to prevent prosecution for
cohabitation The public
press IN Utah characterized the bill
as designed TO protect from prosecu-
ton people who practice unlawful CO.
II was so framed that:
mo prosecution for unlawful CO.
habitatlon shall be commenced except
un the complaint Of the wife or the al
Keyed plural wife Of the accused" (Salt
lake Tribune. March lS. 1900.
After a heated discussion, In which
he purpose Of the bin TO prevent prose-
utlon for unlawful cohabltation was
penly avowed. II was passed. But II
Was subjected TO the veto Of Gov,
Heber NJ Wells. No better evidence
IAN be cited for the anti-polygamy
A mendment than the reason given by
the governor for his veto. He said in
part: !
In my opinion nothing can be
clearer than that this bill, II pass q
would be welcomed and employed as
A most effective weapon against the
very classes whose condition IL Is In
tended 20 ameliorate Furthermore, /
have every reason to believe It's enact
nent would be the signal for a general
demand upon the national Congress for
constitutional amendment directed
solely against certain social conditions
here. a demand which. under the cir
would .assUredly be com
llied with.
II yield TO one one In affection for |
hose OF my people who. for the high |
,st motives and because they believed |
{ a divine command, entered into the |
citation OF plural marriage. Born aud |
cared In Utah, myself q product OF |
hat marriage system, taught from in |
ancy to regard my lineage as approved |
Il the Almighty. and proud today, as ! |
ave ever been, OF my heritage Il viii |
De granted, ! trust, that every instinct |
Il my nature reaches out % shield |
ny friends from harm and protect /
hem from unjust attack Their cause
. my cause, and when they are hurt.
am hurt, for | am part OF them But
n that same heart which IL filed with
for them find also the
olemn feeling that this bin holds out
My q false hope Of protection. and
hat In Offering a phantom Of relief 10
few. Il. In reality. invites q deluge us
iscord and disastc- upon ALL" (sec
overnor's veto mcs'age)
Here Ia the admission by the gov
rnor OF this state o. Utah that Ger
ain social conditions exist here" and
hat an amendment 10 the Constitution
I the United States. making pOlygamy |
nj polyGamous coiabitafl0n crimes.
M bring q 'deluge ~ discord and dis.
ster upon an That these conditions
xist. is our contention But 0hv, n tie
lanifesto Of Prest. 0ccdrpnr ras nrop-
rly interpreted before ths. master II
hancery- Why should a aw making
olygamy and polygamous cohebitation
Continued on page Two)