New-York tribune., 1903-02-12
SEM TE'S OPEN SESSION
Department of Commerce Bill Passed
THE Statehood Debate

Washington, Feb. lin the Senate to-day Nr
Hanna called the conference report on the De
partment of Commerce bill and it was adopted
without debate. The bill now goes TO the President
Mr.. Morgan resumed his remarks the State
hood bill, but branched off to the subject OF the
proposed treaty with Colombia. He referred -
the concordat of Pope Plus TX, which consttuted
q part of the organic law OF Colombia, and said
that the United States intended to put the heel OF
ignomntous contempt on it He predicted return
OF the hostities between the old Church partV IN
Colombia and the Liberal party
Mr.. Depew spoke in opposition to the Statehood
bill. He said that the head OF the Mormon
Church, who is the spiritual and temporal guide
Of the Mormon people. was in position 70 say 10
the leaders of both political parties What will you
do TO protect Mormonism?' If there is any faIh-
blty the world, he said, it is the judgment az
election time of the political leader of any party
IF that is true interrupted Mr.. Patterson (Col-
orado). why did the Republican party two years
ago make greater bid for the Mormon vote than
did the Democrats?'
Replying. Mr. Depew said both parties made every
possible bid but the Mormons trusted the Republi-
cans" which caused laughter. He characterized
the anti-polygamy section of the Statehood bill as
sham. and said there had been no proposition
from the Democratic side to strengthen il
Mr.. Teller said that if day would be set when
a vote could be taken the Democrats would Join
in strengthening the provisions referred to.
Mr. De- continuing. spoke in part as follows;
No territory should be admitted as State now
unless th1ngS-SutlclenC
population and the climatic and other conditions
requisite to sustain a population which will grow
ators in this BODY ~ RE represent something besides
mountains and mines. arid plains and driedup water
S6n;hns ne ndeasIIre th5t the Observation-Disclosures Of these
Territories is due to lack of opportunities which
would with Statehood. Unfortunately FOR
the advocates of this view the bill itself refutes
the argument Oklahoma which is in the measure
with Arizona and New-MexiCo, in ten years has
FIVE times in wealth and taxable property and
revenues ten tnes more a tnan @co "a has IN
three hundred years Of white settlement and SHY
reason for Okahoma's prosperity is clear She
has the soil and the climate She mas lhe
invites the settler. while nature in these vast
mountain regions and upon these aiken @ plans re- re-
settlement or livelihood Arizona and NeT-heylco'
homa's ten Of Territorial government, have gained
and one-tenth population TO the square nle'
The haste With which this bill was PREPARED and
rushed through the House Is ey6enced by the caTe-
cTeasin Mormon population IN Ar75aa ar z3 hT and eT
is moved by one for the purposes Of the
Church. 1t frightens politicians wherever 1t ex-
Influence wherever the .Iormon vote is had It
holds the balance of power III States and IN Cq9 1
for its vote It's hand is seen in the prepaFa{on
Of this omnGus 6 9e The f9 Sny oa} We9sr2 @
poiygamy It is a doctrine which has never been
given up by the Mormon Church, vet the I'd I'd
rnunds bill making 1t felony prevents IT'S pracqce
in the Territories The moment : Is<TS9Ty R Pfs
purely State and domestic institution: No one
to polygamy and see how totally ineffective 1t IS 70
prevent it's practice when these Territories pecoI1e
siGious and the all powerful mind Of the Mormon
Church in this bill and in the pressure 10 pass II
Tt will he a shock to the moral sense Of our people
and to the conscience of the churches of the cogn-
try when they discover that a o SO fUG9Sy ,ort L
Mr.. Depew had not concluded when the Senate
went into executive session