Evening star., 1902-02-12
CHARGED WITH POLYGAMY.
But Mormon Church Denies Statement
Of Ministerial Alliance.

A dispatch from Salt Lake, Utah, last
night says: The Ministerial Alliance Of
Salt Lake has unanimously adopted the re-
port Of the committee of that organization
appointed to investigate and report on the
alleged practice and teaching Of polygamy
by the Mormons at the present time. This
report is to be used as a petition for the
passage OF constitutional amendment pro-
hibiting polygamy and will be sent to the
judiciary committees Of Congress.
The report, which is quite lengthy, sets
forth that positive evidence can be pro-
duced that polygamy is both practiced and
taught by the Mormons at the present
time in open defiance OF the laws of the
state. The document contains numerous
quoted statements alleged to have been
made by Mormon leaders, in which the
practice and teaching Of polygamy is ad
vocated and urged, regardless of man-made
laws to the contrary.
Among other things the report says:
Joseph F. Smith, formerly chief coun-
selor to President Snow and now president
Of the church, said in 1896, While dedi-
eating a meeting house at Payson: Take
care of your polygamous wives. We do
not care for Uncle Sam now"
President Smith made the following state
ment to the Associated Press in regard to
this section Of the report:
Il wish to declare emphatically that
never said any such thing, either at Pay
my sentiments as to the families of men
who contracted plural marriages years ago
that they should provide for and educate
and take care of them in every proper
way. l say SO now, but the remark at
tributed to me about Uncle Sam 1 never
made. and the statement that l did SO is
utterly and wckedly false"
The News, the official organ of the Nor
mon Church, tonight denounces the report
of the ministerial association as a mass of
Misrepresentation, built on number of
stories many of them grossly false; most
of them purpoSely exaggerated and the
whole related to very small portion of
the population Of this state and of the
Mormon part of 1t.
THE unreiiabiity of the tales told by
people on whom these ministers depend for
the scandals in which they delight" says
the News, "and the reports made by anti
Mormons of speeches delivered by Mormon
elders and others, has been demonstrated
time and time again.
1.-THE plain and simple truth Is that po-
lygamy is not taught or encouraged by the
authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ
Of Latter Day Saints, and that plural mar
. riages are no longer solemniZed but that
men who contracted such marriages in the
past are expected to care for, love and sup
port their families, and would be regarded
as recreant to their faith and vtolators OF
their sacred covenants II they refused or
neglected to do so; that their numbers are
very small compared to the bulk OF the
population; that the enemies OF the Nor
mon people are endeavortng to make
mountain out of a mole hill; that while
some of them may believe there Is a little
foundation for their foolish fears Of Nor
mon intent, some Of them know better,
and are willfully attempting to bear false
witness against their neighbors and to de-
ceive the American public.
1.-The purpose Of these misrepresentation
is well understood. and SO is the animus
which impels them"