Mexico weekly ledger., 1904-04-14
in A PANIC.
NEW AETI-foLyGAMY ORDER
BRINGS VISIONS OF PRIs-
ON TO MANY.
FLEE FROM new SENATE VRITs.
Church Leaders Disappear. But DAY
Be Compelled to Act Against Of
tenders Joseph Smiths Ae-
ton Came as Surprise to
Late POIygamists

SALT LAKE, UTAu. ApsIl tn
action OF the general conference Of the
Mormon church yesterday 10 d, clai-
ing all who may take plural wives viii
be liable 10 accommodation and will
not be protected in any way has given
many prominent Mormons visions Of
the penitentiary. The action of Pres
ident Joseph +. Smith In forcing this
action came as an unpleasant surprise
to those who had recently entered In
to new plural marriages, surprising the
authorities would wink at IL. Presi-
dent Smith declared On the stand In
Washington that he still believed
polygamy to be divine, although he
denied the practice was continued.
The ~polygamists felt more secure than
ever. But II President Smith and the
other church authorities stand by the
principles affirmed yesterday they
must help to produce evidence In
polygamy cases and they must punish
enthusiastically where there is proof OF
guilt.
1t is regarded as highly doubtful
whether the church will take the
initiative in any such matters, but II
seemingly conclusive evidence Of
p0lygamy is produced before the Sen
ate committee on privileges and elcc-
lions, now hearing the Smoot case,
showing that certain persons have
contracted plural marriages since the
Woodruff manifesto against it, the
belief is that the church authorities
can have no recourse except to excom-
municate the culprit.
WITNESSES CALLED.
According to the Mormon belief, ex-
communication would cut of ali hope
of heaven, but that does not worry
the polygamists so much as the pres
pect Of going to the penitentiary.
There are some cases which the SEN
ate committee already is preparing To
investigate, and the principals are
frightened. ~SubpSenas have been is
sued for Angus NJ. Cannon and for
Lillian Mamlin Cannon. Mrs. Can
non is alleged to have been married
polygamously by three Of Cannon's
sons. David and Abraham are dead,
but the third, now living, has left sud.
denly for Canada. Apostles John w,
Taylor, NJ. f. Cowley and Geo. Teas
dale, all accused of having plural
wives since the manifesto, and all
wanted by the Senate committee, with
other witnesses in the same cases, are
''on the underground" Elder S. S
Newton, another polygamist has dis
appeared, as has j. NJ. Tanner, Sun
day School leader. 1t is said thai
others, some OF them OF prominence
viii do likewise until the general in
terest dies away.
REVOLT AGAINST sMooT.
After planning for months to domi
nate absolutely the state convention
which will select delegates TO the Re
publican national convention 10 Chi
cago, Senator Reed Smoot tonight Il
in danger of defeat. Caucuses ar,
now in progress which before day
light may result in a combination t
encompass his defeat. Moreover, hi
friends are working with might anC
main to head off the threatened intro
duction of a resolution aimed directly
at him. The convention will TAX,
place here tomorrow. Smoot and tht
church forces he controls made al
alliance some time ago with former
Congressman George Sutherland, I
Gentle, who desires to be United
States senator in place Of Senate
Kearns.
Now that the delegates have arrived
1t has developed that there is a strong
sentiment among delegates In yarioui
parts OF the state against the com
bine S slate.