Los Angeles herald., 1905-02-05

iein to Joseph Smith he not only gave
IL added sanctity and covered up
multitude Of sins and transgressions,
for which a growing discomfort was
calling him and his apostles to ac-
count, but he also firmly bound all
those who were involved in polyeamy
either by marriage or birth to the Nor
mon church, IN which alone they found
sanction and Justification. Thus he
forged the strongest chain that binds
the Mormon women and their polyga-
nous offspring to the faith. 10 also
tended to segregate them from the
American people, on the theory that
decent people would hesitate to identity
themselves with such a community.
But It did more. It necessarily IN
volved the absolute subserviency OF
woman. She was taught that she was
inferior to man and dependent upon
his favor, not only for temporal bless-
ings, but for future life. Her hus-
band was to be her saviour. He must
call her up from the grave on the
resurrection morning. II she Is to have
resurrection at all. and her position
among the gods must be determined by
the number Of wives her husband pos
sesses. Every woman must have
Mormon husband, therefore, and be
abjectly obedient and subservient to
him or be lost.
Political "oneness' was but another
short STEP 1t was only necessary TO
put the ballot in her hand In order TO
give to her fraction of husband the
absolute control of another vote. What
ever may be the merits of female suff-
rage under normal conditions, 1t Is IN
Utah the refuge and strength of the
Mormon hierarchy against possible
Gentle majority. The Mormon woman.
with unquestioning, unfiinching devo-
tion to her husband who holds her
eternal destiny in his hands, will wade
through flood and fire to reach the
polls on election day, and with little
knowledge of political issues and less
regard for national interests, will do
as she is told and ask no questions
Since the wives outnumber the hus-
bands at least three to one, female
suffrage in Utah gives to the Mormon
men virtually an average of four votes
each. President Joseph F. Smith, hav-
confessedly five wives, has six votes.
This phase of the situation goes far
toward explaining their hesitancy to
give up their wives, for an abandoned
wife is no longer subservient.
AS to Voting Power
Moreover, the Mormon has four times
the voting power of a Gentle, for the
Gentle wife has not the religious in
centive to do her husbands will at the
polls, and, being more intelligent than
her Mormon sister, has some views of
her own. There is another significant
fact in this connection. The Gentle
women do not care to mingle with the
Mormon women who are herded at the
polls, and so usually refrain from vot-
ing. Thus the relative voting power of
a Mormon is greatly enhanced.
In conclusion let me say what the
most casual reader will already have
observed, that such condition, exist
ing as it does, presents an irresistible
temptation to political party managers
and so affords the most alarming op-
tportunities for corruption that can be
found in our great country. Any at
tempt to convert or mitigate these evils
by legislation on the part of congress
would have little aid or sympathy from
a senator who is indebted to that di-
abolical system and not to any public
service he has ever rendered for the
honors he has received and the exalted
place he occupies.