Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-07-08
AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.

There has been much discussion over
the attempt to doyetail into tho plat
form Of the national Democratic party,
framed by it's leaders 10 be adopted by
the convention at st. Louis, a plank
hewed out by Senator Fred. t, Dubois
of Idaho as here annexed:
Recent investigation before the
committee on privileges and elections
OF the United States senate having
shown the vital connection between
church and state. with the church I'm
complete control, which obtains In a
large part Of our country under Nor
mon domination, also the humiliation
of womanhood and the destruction OF
the American Ideal OF home in connec-
tion with the same. we therefore pledge
the Democratic party to the advocacy
OF such an amendment to the Constitu-
ton of the United States as will au-
thorze Congress 10 pass such national
legislation as may be necessary to pun
ish and suppress polygamy and unlaw-
full cohabitation within the United
States ana all territory subject to It's
jurisdiction.
I'VE demand that those practising or
UNFOLDING polygamy or unlawful CO.
habtatlon be deprived Of their election
franchise,
1--WE demand the separation Of church
and state I'm political affairs"
This resolution, according to dis
patches from ST. Louis, published in
the Senator's Salt Lake organ. and
apologist was not accepted by the
committee, but modified plank was
fashioned on a sort OF compromise be-
tween him. and directors to the orig
inal proposition, This, too was shaved
down, until moderate little bit Of
patchwork that can scarcely be called
a plank was inserted, as may be seen
in the account OF the proceedings. The
Utah delegates evidently did their best
20 prevent any direct insult TO this
State, such as was clearly intended by
the proposition we have copied above.
1t Is not our purpose to discuss the
question involved In the endeavor to
bring the Mormon Church into as
ISOLATION with politics, or that OF ma
tlonal domination in the domestic af-
fairs OF the several states. 1t is
simply the action of member OF
the committee on privileges and cleo
tlons Of the United states Senate that
we draw attention TO, Here is one Of
the judges on case before that body
preJudging IT, reaching conclusion
before anything has been presented by
the defense. and. as generally UNDER
stood, before even the entire evidence
for the complaint has been concluded,
and publicly giving voice to that pre-
judgment and urging great national
party TO adopt his decision as having
been established while the whole coun-
try knows that the case is still pend
ing
The assertions contained In the Du-
bols proposition are untrue It has not
been shown IN the investigation re.
ferred to that the Church is in COM
plete control in "a large part Of our
country under Mormon domination"
on the contrary, statements to that ef-
feet made before the committee were
refuted by the admissions OF the Wit
nesses. We might 80 on and prove
from the record that every assertion I'm
the proposed plank" Is incorrect, and
not borne out by the evidence. but that
does not matter very much II Is the
attempt to Involve a great political par
~ in measures that strike at the very
root Of It's essential doctrines. and the
hvowal OF snap judgment on most
important matter still under adjudica-
tion, that arouse the amazement and
anger OF great many thinking people
OF different faiths and parties.
The question is naturally asked. is
member Of an investigating commit
tee who has made up his mind on a
vital question before that body. on
partial hearing OF but one side OF the
controversy, competent to sit as a
Judge in that committee or In any trlbu.
nal by which the matter is to be adju-
dicated? That we suppose, Is largely
a matter Of taste. proprlety and usage.
but 1t appears also TO be a matter Of
common Justice, particularly to the par
ties made defendant in the investiga-
ton. However, this paper Is not au-
thorlzed to make any objection on their
part, but simply voices a public senu-
mAnt with which the writer OF this ar
ticla emphatlcaly comedies.