The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-02-22
CONTINUED from Yesterday

same way the bill for the admission OF
Utah carelessiy went along in the other
mouse ten years ago. / turned 10 see
what was done when Utah became
state, because ] wanted TO understand
why it was that in placing this ire
mendous proposition before the people,
the suffragans of the United States, the
only words in the organic act which
made Utah a state which would at all
relate TO, affect. or prohibit these prac-
tees, and constrain this secret, irre-
sfstible, mysterious and all-pervading
their support of pOlygamy, was 20 be
found IN a single line:
Provided. That polygamous or plural
marriages are forever prohibited
/ wanted to find why it was that in
making a state of the Union the con-
gress of the United States had so incon-
tinently rushed forward with this mat
ter. and I thought, perhaps, an inquiry
would relieve my doubt by showing
matters which were more restrictive
than this single mild prohibition indi-
Gated ] was surprised to find that in
the senate there was no debate on the
Utah statehood proposition. The Rec
ord contains only about thirty lines to
tell the story in the senate of the prof
fer and passage of the bill making
Titan state.
Mr.. President. the report in the SEN
ate on this weighty proposition con-
tains the brief printed matter on the
near page of the volume in my hand.
(Exhibiting) There were two reports
I'm the house of representatives In
1893, so little and ill consideration did
the senate give to this very serious
question, and as a result of this care
less haste some of the consequences de-
tailed here today have unhindered fol-
lowed since Utah has been state. In
the house there happened to be ma
jority and a minority report.
The majority report was largely
signed; the minority report was made
by the gallant General Wheeler of Ala
bama, who was chairman of the COM
mittee, and who desired to put some
kind of manacles upon the unhindered
Mormon church. which was left free
in the majority report. But the com
mittee ran away from the gallant gen
eral. He never ran away from any
body. He did not run away from his
proposition in this instance, but the
house then seemed to have been in an
amiabie atmosphere of general consent.
very much like that atmosphere which
IS sought to be infused here when the
distinguished senator from PennsylVa-
MIA tMr. Quay daily rises and asks for
unanimous consent that a day be fixed
for a vote upon a bill which has not
been amended and which is only being
discussed in one aspect and much in
any other. and which requires the Sc
rious discussion which it ought to re-
ceive as much as the Utah bill ought
TO have received discussion in congress
when that Mormon community was
made a state of the Union.
/ said, Mr.. President, that the Utah
bill seemed to go by general consent
I find here that on page 17S of the
r -
atOr from Utah (Mr. Rawlns), then
being the delegate in the house of rep
resentatives from Utah. and he more
than any man living, seemed 10 hypno-
tie the house at that time in getting
the organic act through the house of
representatives: but he seems to have
been of an opinion at that time some
what different, / take it, from his opin-
ion. now, for he then said:
Governor West, in his report
The house knew and the country
knew that Governor West had been the
stern executive endeavoring TO put
down the Mormon practices in Utah
and to compel obedience to the law then
in force. l will not take time to read
from the statutes at large, volume "a
of the FOrty-ninth congress. the entire
act known as the "Edmunds act' al
that time. chapter 397, but it has in its
first section very important anti po-
lygamy provisions. which enable hus-
band and wife to testify in prosecutions
for pOlygamy. Section > provides fol-
the issuance of attachments for wit
neSSes and recognizances. The statute
also provides punishments for adultery
which is the crucial punitory provision
IN any statute against polyganly, and
one which should be in every organic
act and which should be in the stat
utes of the states where the MoTmOns
are numerous before the state be ad,
United.
The statute also provides punish
ment for fOrnicatiOn, makes stipula
lions in regard to prosecutions for adj
terry, and then imposes restrictions anC
regulations in respect of marriage cere
monies, certificates of marriage, anC
their use prima facie evidence, witt
punishments for violation of such pro
visions.
Those are few of the many drastic
but. as IL now seems, most necessary
restrictions upon the practice of polyg
amy and restraints upon the power o
this great Mormon organization. Blu
at that time men seemed to be hope
full and optimistic and in this spiri
the house discussed the question. Til
distinguished senator from Utah thel
sa.-!:
Governor West, in his report as ter.
ritorial governor, which I have in m,
hand. says"
Governor West was much opposed t
the church and to polygamy in his ad
ministration in Utah
THE practice of pOlygamy has beer
abandoned by the church and the PEG
pie. PolygamOus marriages are for
hidden by the authorities of the church
The people or church party has bee
dissolved"
It seems to have gathered its powe
together quickly again
land the conditions existing in the ter
ritory are now in no wise differen
from those in vogue in the states Q
the Union"
Mr.. Rawlins-Mr. President. I shoul
like to invite the attention of the sen
ator from Maryland to one point.
The presiding officer (Mr. Pettus i
the chair)-Does the senator froT
Maryland yield to the senator fror
Utah?
Mr.. McComas-With pleasure.
Mr. Rawlins-The senator emphasize
the fact that the church or People
party has dissolved. That was strictl
accurate. Before 1890 there had bee
a church party which was known 10
cally as the Peoples party" 1t wa
the Mormon party.
Mr.. McComas-I remember that
Mr. Rawlins-The Gentiles were OF
ganzed under what was known as I'll
Liberal party. In 1890, prior TO tina
proclamation, the church or People
party met together and disorganizeC
disbanded That was in pursuance {
the general declaration that the peopl