Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-06
PLURAL WIVES PROVOKE TALK
Senate Has Suggestion TO Amend
Statehood BiT so as TO stop
POlyERmy.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.-Discussion OF
the statehood bill in the senate today
turned on the question Of polygamy. A
lumber OF senators who heretofore have
taken no part in the debate participated in
the discussion. Mr.. Gallagher. IN. h, re-
plying to some statements made by Mr..
McComas (Md), said be was in favor of an
amendment to the statehood. bill covering
the question OF %polygamy as strongly and
firmly as possible.
The influence Of the Mormon church. over
politics occupied a large share of the de-
bate. Mr.. Hale (Me) characterized the de-
bate as interesting. valuable and startling
because IT had disclosed a powerful relig-
ious organization "exerting itself as a
dominant, potential force" over the mind
and action of its follow srs which should be
taken into account in future legislation.
Mr.. Kean IN. J.). who had intended con-
tlnuing his remarks begun yesterday in
opposition to the bill. yielded the floor so
often during the day that before he re-
sumed the senate went into executive ses-
sion and adjourned a few minute after
ward.
During the consideration Of morning bust
ness a bill was passed authorizing the
Pittsburg, Carnegie & Western Railroad
company to construct a bridge across the
Allegheny river at Pittsburg.
Mr.. Quay (Pa.) then objected to the pas
sage Of any further bills by unanimous con-
sent.
Mr.. McCumber IN. d. moved to con-
slider the pure food bill passed by the house
and on a yea and nay vote the motion pre-
Vallejo to is.
The bill was read and an amendment was
agreed to providing that nothing in the
act should apply to substances or materia .
manufactured and sold exclusively for use
in the arts and industries, but only when
manufactured and sold as drugs or foods.
Consideration was not concluded at 2, when
the statehood bill came up.
The debate on the statehood bill turned
on polygamy.' Mr.. McComas (Md.) started
1t yesterday by criticising the bill as being
too liberal. Mr.. Gallinger IN. H. replying
said he was willing that as strong an
amendment as could be drawn prohibiting
polygamy should be inserted in the bill.
Mr.. Dubois (Ida.) declared that no polyg-
amists could occupy any high political place
without the consent Of the first presidency
Of the Mormon church. The same iniu-
ence, he said, was exercised in New Mexico
and Arizona. Idaho could control the Nor
ulOn .HGOHAC hOh0NNA ~ ~ eAAN - hN
Mormon people should openly, through their
first president, interfere in the politics OF
Idaho he would guarantee to disfranchise
every Mormon in one campaign.
Mr.. Teller (Colo.) declared the Mormon
church all powerful and said whenever II
spoke through its first presidency the great
body of the church, responded to the de
mand that was made.
Mr.. Rawlins CUtah) mentioned the proc
Tamation Of the head of the Mormon church
in 1890 declaring for a cessation Of poly
gamy and taking the Mormon church OUT
of politics, thus leaving Mormons free Ia
fetpress their political" preference as they
saw At. Therehpoh, he said, opposition to
the administration Of Utah as a state was
removed.
He admitted, however, hat the Mormon
influence in Utah politics still was an i'm
portant factor.
Mr.. Spooner. (Wis.) inquired II 1t was
true that the first presidency could dictate
whether or not a Mormon should hold q
high political Office.
Mr.. Dubois said no Mormon would rur
for a high political office without the con-
sent Of the first presidency.
Answering Mr.. Spooner, Mr.. Rawlins said
he did not care to give an opinion as Il
whether the full scope Of the Mormon
church power ever came to the knowledge
OF the public, but he declared that there
was a large element which would over
throw the church domination in the AFFAIRS
of the state because it was obnoxious t.
them. The disposition to do this wal
growing, and in Utah conditions were I'M
proving.
Replying ITO Mr.. McComas, he admitted
that a majority of the legislature wer'
members of the Mormon church, although
they had not Disseminated against non
Mormons on religious grounds.
Mr.. Hale remarked that the debate hat
been interesting, valuable and startling. /
had disclosed a powerful religious organi
cation e~xerting itself as a dominant poten
tial force. over the mind and action Of IT.
followers.
at is the power to bind and loose" sal,
he, III there is anything in the spirit o
the American institutions. it is" he con
\ tinued, "that It is never permissible OIL
the part of the authorities OF religion
organizations TO exercise control In tenn
poral matters over their followers and L
influence elections. This day has not, beef
/ Ill spent in bringing out conditions tina
obtain where the Mormon church has Sc
cured its lodgnient. .
The lessons of the day ought to sinl
into the minds Of senators and be takei
into account In future legislation
Mr.. Patterson (Colo.l said the chief de
sire of the Mormons was to remain II
favor with the party in power. But he de
clared that II any sect was large enougI
and strong enough to become a politica
factor in the country, It would pursue tn
same course as the Mormon church.
Mr.. MeComas cited the law making Utal
a state and said:
"If the Mormons could be rid Of thl
dark shadow they would reap the reward
Of their toll and their trials. TIL abolition
Of polygamy and the domination Of a secre
hierarchy would meet with the applaus
and approval Of our people"
Mr.. Quay was not prepared or authorize
to accept an amendment emLodying tn
"Edmunds law and applying It TO Arlzoh
and New Mexico, and suggested that tn
best way to settle that question was I
fix a day for a vote on the bill.
Mr.. Kean IN. J). who had yielded tn
floor to first one senator and then anothe
during the entire day, started TO continu
his remarks begun yesterday. when tn
senate at 4:SO went into executive session
and at 1850 adjourned.