The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-12
PoLYeAMY STILL FLoURl-H1Ne.
If New Laws Are Needed Steps
should Be Taken.

Houston. CTex) Post)
No more conclusive proof OF the extent
TO which polygamy Is being practiced IN
Utah than that furnished during the ex-
animation OF Joseph F. Smith before the
senate committee on privileges and cleo
lions could be asked for .
The venerable head Of the Mormon
church attempts 10 draw a fine distinc-
ton between the practice Of polygamy
and polvgamOus cOhabitatiOn, bur u IS
not clear that he has succeeded in con-
vihcing any one on that point. For the
most part. his testimony before the COM
mittee. which is considering Reed SmOot s
right TO sit in the senate is direct in
dictment of the Mormon religion. in that
II shows that many OF the male members
OF the sect are now living with more
than one wife and that the relations with
these plural wives are exactly the same
as they were before the issuance Of the
1880 manifesto fOrbidding plural mar
riageS-
1t is no doubt commendab,e in Presi-
dent Smith to refuse 10 desert his numer-
Gus family, even for the sake OF com
plying with that manifesto; but it Is by
10 means clear that his duty 20 the wo-
men 20 whom he had been sealed be
fore the issuance of the manifesto is
such as 20 cause or permit him 20 con-
tnUe on exactly the same terms with al
or tnem- Each OF his plural wives has
borne him children since the manifesto
was issued. He remembers that eleven
have been born. all told, but Is not GER
tain as to how they were divided. Judging
by this official report OF the examina-
ton on that point
4 have had eleven children born TO me
since 1850. Each of my wives bore chill
dren.
one of your wives has borne more than
two?
Not that I can recouect of now. I
could tell you later by referring % dates.
Uaughter.)
The position Of President Smith is tina.
he is justified In the eyes Of God and
man IN standing by his family" In de-
fiance Of the law which, If recognized.
would long ago have deprived him OF
four fifths Of his wives. AS between the
law of the land and his obligations TO his
FAMILY, he is uoted as saying that
he would prefer to take chances with the
former In following out this lire OF
reasoning he had continued 20 cohahit
with ali Of his five wives. exactly as be
fore. and only by refrainins from mar
rying more has he obser.-ed either The
spirit or the letter of the law.
President Smith saws congress has no
rl9ht 70 inquire into private affairs. The
Post differs In the present instance
the upper house of congress certainly
has a right TO say whether Reed Smoot
shall or shall not remain a member Of
that body. and If II he shown during the
investigation that new laws are ueces-
Sary Tor the suppression of polygamy in
Jan or elsewhere the proper steps
should be taken without loss or time.
IL was only few days ago that The
Pest published an editorial commentins
on certain charges to the effect that mol
Gnly was polygamy stiil practiced ~
Utah. but that Mormon rnfssiona ries
were engaged all over the country i'm en-.
deaVOTing to convert women and In.
duce mem TO enter into pOlygamous rela.
tons with members Of the sect Now
mat the head Of the church has admitted
the truth Of part Of these charges. il Is
not SO difficult to believe that the other.
are also true