Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1904-07-01
NO ANTI-MORMON PLANK.

NO ANTI-MORMON PLANK.
When Congressman Roberts went to congress
trum Utah, great hue and cry was raised by
Republicans all over the conntry, and he was
not allowed to take his seat. Roberts was
Democrat.
Later, Reed Smoot was elected to the United
States senate. Again there was roar from
every part of the country. Smoot must be
fired instanter. Women everywhere protested
against him. But Smoot hasn't been fired yet.
He is Republican.
Later on came the national convention of
1904. Great howls and demands for an anti
Mormon plank in the platform. The Woman's
Christian Temperance Union, through its head,
made an appeal for such plank. Demands
poured in. But, says the Chicago Record
Herald
There is no anti-polygamy plank in the Re-
publican platform, and only slight effort was
made in behalf of such plank. At the meet
ing of the resolutions committee, Senator Gal
linger presented and had read communication
from Mrs. Lillian M. Stevens, of Evanston, on
behalf of the Woman's Christian Temperance
urging declaration against the Mormon church.
But there was no one to speak in support of
such action, and except for few remarks TO
the effect that it would be unwise, the subject
received no attention.
Little or no disappointment was expressed
by any of the women in attendance at the con-
w.ntion, either as delegates or in any other
oho he north oud COlOradO
on the east of Utah, sent women to the con-
veution, but these at no time were in favor of
attacking Mormouism. And they now say that
if any part of the feminine population is dis
appointed, it is other than tina. living in closest
proximity to the Mormons.
cit would have been bad politics to adopt
such plank, said Mrs. ]. R. West, of Idaho,
one of the alteruates. "Besides, the Mormons
are good citizens. ! know, because l have
been among them. The people in the far east
ern states, who know least about them, do
most of the talking against them. The Nor
mons who have more than one wife each are
those who married them before the laws forbid
ding polygamy went into effect, and believe
it is right for these men to continue supporting
their plural wives"
Mrs. c. A. Eldredge and Mrs Owen lie Fevre,
who are among Colorado's alternates, say there
was no occasion for declaration against polyg-
amy or against Mormonism in general. There
are Mormon settlements in Colorado, bit these
feminine politicians deny that the fear of losing
the Mormon vote has anything to do with their
views. They Indignantly assert that they are
mott rit ~ The NJ her oil afe
Mrs. Jennie E. Nelson, of Ogden, Utah, would
have opposed any action hostile to the church,
as would the entire Utah delegation
Mrs. ]. Ellen Foster, president, and the other
officers of the National Republican League,
say they would have supported the ticket
matter what the platform might have been
But Mrs. Foster is rather pleased than other
wise that no ant-pollgamy plank was adopted
She expects to campaign in the four states OF
Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Idaho this year,
and, consequently, will find it easier to make
votes than would have been the case with such
plank to trip her up in the Mormon sectious
AS to the failure of the woman-suffragists to
obtain recognition in the platform, Mrs. West
and other feminine alternates say suffrage will
triumph four or eight years hence. Meanwhile,
they will continue their efforts to get state leg
islatures to pass equal-sudrage laws.