The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-14
Mormon Polygamtsb Welcome
Mexlc0 for P0HhcaIReaSOuS

Church is facing is arising within itself.
IL is the more and more pronounced pro-
test made by an increasing numb9r OF Nor
mon girls against marrying in polygamy.
They are feeling the impulses OF free, IN
dependent. notwithstanding womanhood.
Their murmurings against be.nS placed IN
the servile position OF being one Of the sew
eral wives Of some follower OF Brigham
Young cannot be sileaced- They are free
to acknowledge that the home lie Of mos.
of the Mormon families OF their acquaint-
ance, where two or more wives preside over
the destinies OF one home, Is unhappy.
They can read their own future in the life
OF toll and turmoil endured by their moth
ers.
\ MORMON GIRL SPEAKS.
Said one of the leading young women Of
Dublan. in speaking OF the aversion which
the girls feel against the hiGeous practice
of poygamy: There are very few girls OF
my acquaintance who have not told me
confdentialiy that they will not marry in
polygamy. OF course we Go not say much
about this. because whenever any one is
found who is rebelIious the leaders of the
church use their influence to keep her in
line The girls are told that husband can
not marry a second wife without having
first secured the consent OF his first wife
TO such second marriage. But the trouble
is, when a Mormon has secured his first
into the home, he and others will use every
possible argument to get his wife to open
the door TO a second life companion, and
then TO a third. and so on and on, until
with each newcomer her position will be-
come more complicated and degraded. The
only safe means OF escape for Mormon
girl down here is TO refuse 10 marry at all,
to cast her matrimonial lot with some
one entirely outside of the Mormon
church"
Il of No. CT, o-k,-o fo1
lows. They spread the matrimonial net,
and tactfully decoy unsuspecting young
women into il. The social life of the col
ony is directed toward this end. dance
is given once every month, to which
general invitation is extended. The mar
ried men are expected to bring their wives
to the ballroom first and then seek the
home of some young woman VINO has at
tracted his fancy and accompany her to
the dance also If the wives are detained
ut the home by Il bevy of children, which
is usually the case, the fathers are the more
frisky and gallant in bringing young girls
to these social events. If any of these men
are candidates for more wives the women
of their choice will have no difficulty in de-
tecting, from the fiattering attentions be-
slowed upon them, that they are being
sought.
The Mormons urge that it is the duty of
every household to multiply and replenish
the earth. They teach that wOman'S pO-
sition in heaven is determined by the num-
Der of children in her family They teach
that a woman without children will be
doomed to the Lowest rank in heaven, while
she who rears a large circle of her own
children will be dOubly rewarded.
Every wife IS expected TO be self-helpful,
and with the assistance of her children,
provide their daily necessities. She is usu-
ally given a cow, some chickens and few
acres Of land under irrigation on which to
grow vegetables. Much of the work in the
field and garden is done by the wives and
daughters, while the men are away driving
teams or working in the mines or on the
ranches.
IL is no uncommon sight TO see young
women, still in their teens, out in the fields
hoeing or changing the course of the water
in the irrigation bitches. Everybody in
Dublan works. and, during six days In the
week, it presents busy hive of industry.
JESSE HUBER.