The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1905-03-01
SENATOR kEARns or UTAH GIT
TEA IN HIS CRITICISM or
cHuRcH LEADERS.
DEFIANT VIOLATION or THE LAWS
PLEDGES GIVEN TO GAIN STATE
HOOD BROKEN WlLFuLLS
AND FREQUENTLY.

washington, March latter fOu-
tine business In the senate the anti
polygalny resolution introduced by Mr..
Dubois was laid before the senate and
Mr.. Kearns tutah) addressed the sen.
ate at some length
Mr. Kearns, being recognized. said
he could not permit the occasion to
pass without saying what 1t seemed
should be said by senator, under
such conditions, before leaving public
life. lie then reviewed the history of
Utah and recited the conditions under
which statehood was granted.
"The pledges given by the people of
Utah" said the senator, Il believe
consisted of the following proposi-
tions:
"That the Mormon leaders would
live within the laws pertaining to plu-
raj marriage and the continued plural
marriage relations and that they
would enforce this obligation upon all
OF their followers under penalty of dis
fellowship.
"Ihat the leaders of the Mormon
church would no longer exercise po-
litical sway and that their followers
would be free and would exercise their
freedom in politics, in business and
in social affairs" Continuing, he said
utah secured her statehood by a
solemn compact made by the Mormon
leaders in behalf of themselves and
their people.
"That compact has been broken
wilfully and frequently.
No apostle of the Mormon church
has publicly protested against that
violation.
Il know the gravity of the utter
ances that | have made. | know what
are the probable consequences to my
self But / have pondered long and
earnestly upon this subject and have
come to the conclusion that duty to
the innocent people of my state and
obligation to the senate and the coun.
try require that I shall clearly define
my attitude"
President Smith Monarch.
Mr.. Kearns said that the question OF
religion Is not involved, and he passed
from that subject to the social aspect
with brief comment. The social autoc-
racy, he said, at present is at as high
point as 1t has ever reached. He de-
scribed the surroundings and the pow
ers OF President Smith, who, he said,
affects a regal state and has estab-
lished himself with the dignity of
monarch.
In all this social SYSTEM said Mr.
kearns, each apostle has his great
part. He Is iHseparable from 1t. He
wields now such part of the power as
the monarch may permit him to en-
JOY; and ii is his hope and expecta-
tion that he will outlive those who are
his seniors in rank in order that he
may become the ruler"
Taking up the business policy of the
church Mr.. Kearns charged that 1t
amounts to monopoly. He recited
the holdings OF President Smith by
virtue of his Office as well as his pri
vate holdings and said that when
Smith became president he boasted OF
his property, while now he is in re-
ceipt OF an income like unto that which
royal family derives from a national
treasury. One-tenth of all the annual
earnings of all the Mormons In all the
world flows to him. These funds
amount to s1,600,000 annually"
The election of Senator Rawlins
was charged by Mr.. Kearns to have
been due entirely to the Mormon
church in order to humiliate de-
posed apostle. He then took up the
charge that he (Kearns) had bought
his own seat from President Lorenzo
Snow and denounced as a calumny the
stories to that effect.
Mr. Kearns next took up the ques.
tion OF the Mormon marriage relation
and said:
Plural marriage relations have been
continued defiantly according to the
will and pleasure of those who had
formerly violated the law and for
whose obedience to law the church
monarchy pledged the faith and honor
of It's leaders and followers alike in
order to obtain statehood"
Mr.. Kearns charged that every apos-
tie of the church is In large part
responsible for this condition and that
it Is quite evident the church mon
archy is trying to re-establish the rule
OF the polygamons class over the mass
of the Mormon people.