The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-02-10

in these matters. Angus NJ. Cannon.
President Angus NJ Cannon of the
Salt Lake stake of Zion. is nothing if
not candid and has always been. one of
the men in the Mormon church who has
stood by his convictions at all times.
Regarding the charge of the Minis
terial association. that if the Edmunds-
Tucker law were enforced. President Jo
sePh r smith t n and majority o Of the he
driven into exile or put in prison, Presl-
dent Cannon says:
The Edmunds-Tucker law cannot be
enforced. That law was enacted for the
territory. Utah is now state and we
are subject only to state laws in these
our families. 1 never agreed to do it, and
1 never will do it.
In an interview given to the Salt Lake
Telegram jan 6, 1903. Apostle Reed SmOOt.
al that time candidate for election to
the United States senate, evaded the
above and declared: q am not a polyg-
amist; if l am a polygamist, ought to
be in the penitentiary-'
Challenge to Smoot.
On the following day the Ministers
association of Salt Lake City publicly
challenged Apostle Smoot, through the
same paper, saying: THE Ministerial as
ISOLATION would be glad to hear Apostle
Smoot say. IF / am guilty of the practice
of polygamous Capitalization l ought to be
in prison. The Ministerial association is
glad to hear that Apostle Smoot agrees
with it in that if he be guilty of polyS-
amy he ought to be in the penitentiary.
VIII Apostle Smoct say: If l myself or
any others of the twelve apostles are
guilty of polygamy or polygamous cohab-
itation as defined in articles 1908 and 4209
OF the state statuteS We are coNenanC
breakers and lawbreakers. and ought to
be in prison or the penitentiaryT Apos-
tie SmoOt has not yet met this challenge
The president of the senate of Utah at
the legislative session of 1861 was Abel
John Evans. a high priest and one of the
counselors of the Utah stake There were
bers of the legislative assembly. among
whom may be mentioned Bishop Garner.
Bishop Mckay. polygamist; Bishop Nc
MILAN and RuiOn 5 Wells. president OF
the quorum of seventies The mem bers
of the Mormon church composed the large
majority of this legislature. Not long
prior to the converting OF this session
correspondent of an eastern paper had
published many articles indicating the
prevalence Of the practice of poiygamy,
and had caused the prosecution OF ApoS-
tie Grant and President Angus NJ. Can
non For the avOwed purpose of nullify-
ing the statute (revised statutes of Utah,
sec 1901 under which actions for polyg-
amous cohabitation must be commenced,
and OF committing TO the members of the
church the prosecutions for such Of
Tense, President Evans introduced and
supported bill known as the Evans
bill" 1t passed the senate March S. 1901.
by a vote of II TO 4, and few DAYS later
passed the house by d vote of . to II.
Text of Evans Bill.
As finally amended and passed 1t was
as follows:
Section T. That section 4611 of the re-
vised statutes of Utah. 1895. be and the
same is hereby amended to read as fol-
lows:
''4611. Every person who has reason to
believe that a crime or public offense has
been committed may make complaint
against such person before some magis-
trate having authority to make inquiry
of the same; provided, that no prosecu-
ton for adultery shall be commenced ex-
cept on complaint of the husband or wife
or relative of the accused within the first
degree of consa nguinity. or of the person
with whom the unlawful act is alleged
To have been committed. or of the father
or mother of said person. and no prose-
cution for unlawful coha bitation shall be
commenced except on complaint of the
wife or alleged plural wife of the ac-
cused: but this prOviso shall not apply
to prosecutions under section 1908. de-
filming and Furnishing polygamous mar
riages."
This act aroused a protest throughout
the country. and on the 14th of March
Governor II. NJ Wells vetoed the bill.
We call attention to the following SEN
tence from his veto message:
Il have every reason TO believe its en-
actment would be the signal for a gen
sral demand upon the national congress
for A constitutional amendment. directed
solely against certain conditions here. d
demand which. under the circumstances.
would assuredly be complied with