Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-04-23
THE HAcKNEYED SUBJECT

chr,st of I,atter-day saints, the hoeN'
neyed subject Of "polygamy" when
so s, 10 be uppermost in the minds oil !
,be ministers of that society was as"'"
brought to the front, This time II was
presented in the form Of a resolu'io"
introduced for the purpose OF ehoor'"'s
a movement by some Christian "o'
mems societies TO procure an anneno
ment 10 the Constitution OF the ou''su
states prohibiting the practice oil polS-
gamv. This occasioned much discussion
IN the "Reorganized' conference
common result Of the formulation oil al
most everything projected among 'ne
"JosephItes." without conterlioh ne
chief characteristic Of their dellpera-
tions would be conspicuous by Jus up-
sence. After much debate when Is re-
ported by the Kansas City Journal Us
nfeverlsh," the following resolution
was adopted and IS to be circulated
broadcast by the presidency oil tha'
church as a leaflet:"
"Whereas II Is currently reported
That polygamy IL still practlced III Jun
and adjacent states and territories III
defiance Of the laws OF Goa ana NV
laws OF the land, ana
whereas The laws enacted py sta!e
legislation seem TO be inadequate W
prevent or prohibit the practice OF polg-
gany without the intervention OF leu
eral enactment: therefore be Il
oResolved. That we the Reorganlzzed
church of Jesus Christ OF Latter-day
Saints, in general conference asseli-
bed. favor the enactment OF an alnenu,
ment TO the Constitution OF the uhlteu
States prohibiting the practice oil poly
gamy In all the states and territories
under the jurisdiction Of the republic
We copy this resolution for the pur-
pose Of showing the animus OF the re-
lIglous body which poses as an organl-
cation Of believers in the doctrines pro-
mulged by the Prophet Joseph smith,
and yet disputes and fights against
some OF his enunciatlons as the revealed
mind and will Of God. Our missionaries
meet with the most virulent hostility
from the preachers Of the Reorgani2a-
ton" throughout the country and much
Of the persecution which our Elders
have to endure Is ocoasloned by that
antagonlsm.
The first whereas in the foregoing
resolution repeats a current report and
gives It circulation, when II Is nothing
but rumor ana contains SANDER that
has been rebutted almost as often as
II has been published. The "Reorgan-
ization" thus places itself upon record
as a dissemination Of scandal. and joins
itself into the army Of calumninators OF
the Saints II pays no heed to the cur
rent" denials Of the report, which In
fairness should have been noticed as
well as the rumor II there had been any
real occasion 10 mention either. The
refutations that have been made are
official and positive, while the
stories repeated in the resolution are
only gossip and malicious assertion
without evidence in their support
The second 'whereas" asserts al
rect falsehood. There is absolutely
nothing TO show that the laws Of Utah
are inadequate for the purpose men
toned. On the contrary. 1t is clear that
they are sufficient, because no cases Of
polygamy as defined by statute have
been prosecuted since their enactment.
The facts are that there Is less occa-
sion for further legislation against
bigsmy or polygamy IN this State than
in most of the States Of the Union. Any
additional laws In Utah, whether Local
or national for that purpose, would be
but repetition and suplusage
The resolution based on the pream-
bles would not be logical or rational
even II the premises were correct. Sup,
pose It was true that there have beer
some cases Of bigamous or polygamous
marriage IN the state Of Utah since Us
admission into the Union (which by
the bye we do not admit what reason
would that afford for changing the Con
sttuton Of the United States. by
amending it so as TO make a radlca
difference IN Sc tenor and purport q.
regards the relation Of the federal au
thorlty to that Of the several states o.
the Union? Would the alleged violation
Of criminal laws 10 any State Justify IN.
extension Of federal Raw over the Who'll,
country in that particular?
But, Il should bee observed that m,
resolution Of the "JosephItes' favorlnl
the enactment Of an amendment 70 tn
Constitution OF the United Sutet. 8
founded on something that Is stated q
be currently reported and tina
Seems to BE-" II has mo- solid basis
II Is not built upon any established fact
This great nation IS requested 20 TAX
important action on mere rumor an
appearance. The exquisite logic an
profound wisdom exhibited iu this dls
play Of Interference Of o. church wit
the state must be evident 20 ail rea
soning minds that give attention 20 &
Nov. we wish g to De understood ,ha
the passage of the amendment 10 "a
Constitution, which some good Chris
tlan people and some agitators with u
terror motives wish 10 see adopte'
IS a matter Of very little concern 10 n
Church az Jesus Christ Of Lattar-da
Saints, except In ibis one particular;