The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-02-21


me TO ask him question:
Inc President pro tempore-Does the
senator from Colorado yield to the
senator from Wisconsin?
Mr.. Patterson-With pleasure.
Mr.. Spooner-The senator from Colo
rade speaks of the attitude of the Nor
mon Church in politics today, and
thinks it perfectly natural, and not de-
pendent IN any degree upon any po-
lftical convictions but taken in order
( to secure from the government-by that
l understand the senator TO mean the
party for the time being in power
/ Mr.. Patterson-Yes.
! Mr. SpoonerS-Tn order to secure pro-
tection-the senator from Utah (Mr.
Rawlins) said immunity" Protection
from what?
Mr.. Patterson-Protection from pub
/ lie scorn, protection from ignominy.
protection from public sentiment that
/ Is likely to be fully as potential upon
1 the lives of those people as some
direct attack upon their personal
rights and privileges-favor with
the government. I imagine that the
senator from Wisconsin (Mr SpoOner)
and no other senator will suggest that
the person or the body of people who
stand in high favor with the govern
ment of the state or the government. of
the nation, whatever his or their mora:
status may be, are not in a much bet
ter attitude TO the people at large and
in their own community than he or
they would be if they were allowed to
drift without that favor That is the
line which 1 have in mind.
Then, again, l can well understand,
il they were DESTROYS OF legislation of
a certain character which they might
not otherwise receive, and which they
might deem quite essential for their
local betterment and protection that
the church-it being a church in this
instance that has been pursued, that
has been prosecuted. that has been
made odious-would naturally seek to
ally itself not by formal treaty but
by acts of favor from themselves to
the party that happened to be in power
in order that their status might thereby
be improved
] was going to suggest. Mr.. President,
that it is understood that the two or
three settlements of Mormons in Colo
RADIO vote one way. 1 do not pretend
TO say. and / would not say, for l do
not believe it, that it is because they
have political convictions that way,
but because it is the policy which has
gradually intruded itself upon them
by reason of the necessity that has
been crowded upon them; and I think
1t quite well enough. if denUnciation is
to be INDUCED in, if the right of officials
have been elected is to be called in
question, that the causes, the reasons
be taken into consideration, as well as
the bald fact that they are members of
a church Organization which has made
itself obnoxious 10 the body of the
American people.
Mr. McComas-Mr. President
The President pro tempore-Does the
senator from New Jersey yield to the
senator from Maryland?
Mr. Kean-Certainly
Mr.. McComas-Mr. President, I was
not present when the senator from
New Hampshire (Mr Gallinger) made
some criticism of my observations upon
the practice of polygamy in Arizona,
and when the senator from Idaho (Mr.
Dubois) began to talk of the tenets
and political and secret practices of
the Mormon church in Utah and ada
cent states which seem to be somewhat
contaminated by this Mormon inffu-
ence. came in. however, in time to
hear a part of the observations of the
senator from Idaho, and l listened to
all of the remarks of the senator from
Utah CMr. Rawlins) and of the senator
from Wyoming (Mr. Warren). I was
impressed with their frankness and
more impressed with the Importance
and Significance of the statements 1
have heard here this afternoon.
We are here engaged in making new
states. 1t seems that not only Utah,
but 10 a great extent Idaho and Wyo-
ming have in less degree the Mormon
problem; Colorado appears to have it to
meet, and we have had here today in
stead of solutions of the Mormon ques-
ton only confessions, explanations. rep
rotation, mere hope, barren of result,
after many years Of practical trial in
these new statehoods.,
/ was especially impressed by the
statement concerning the secrecy of
the priestly methods and supremacy of
the first presidency of the Mormon
church Years ago 1 saw quite fire.
quently in Utah that remarkable man,
Brigham Young. and then observed his
power and his talent for organization.
saw and became somewhat familiar
with the conditions of the Salt Lake
settlement, not yet open, but soon to be
opened to the railroads. 1t was hoped
by the Gentiies then that when the
railroads came and competition for
states and a stream of new settlers 10
weaken the Mormon force of numbers
would gradually change the then situa-
ton. and thus time would make the
Mormon question vanish.
| beheld in my youth the hierarchy in |
a bSOlute control of municipality and ]
territory: / beheId the domination of a
powerful man with his presidency. his |
councillors, his bishops and apostles, |
and an organization which seemed to !
me even more effective than the politi- 1
cal machinery of Tammany IN New
York. That Organization seems, from (
the statements made here today. to 4
have been not only strong and effective, /
but to have been enduring. and to have 1
lasted without loss of power down to 1
the present time.
The statement was then made by the /
Gentiies and their belief then held that /
when one man with one wife and fam /
ly, after the opening of the railroads, 1
would come into competition in bust |
ness with one man with many families /
necessity would exterminate polygamy.
would eorHpel naonogamy in the social
and domestic life of that very interest
ng community.
I was impressed then. as all men have
been since. by the sobriety. the thrift.
advance In wealth and power of that
singular people; and / hoped, If they |
sculd be rid of this one dark shadow i
and this one dangerous practice. they
would reap the reward of their toll and |
Of their trials. and would. by the aboIi-
ion of this practice of polyEamy and
lisa ppearance of the domino ton Of a
secret hierarchy, meet the approval of
he people Of our country
But years have gone by and the ter
-itofy. as it was when / saw it, is now
! state, and this tremendous organize