The Teton peak-chronicle., 1905-03-02
DUBOIS TALKS ABOUT POLITICS,

interviewed on the Mormon uues-
ton again and has sent the follow
ing from Washington. which ap-
peared in the Sunday Salt Lake
Herald:
Dubois authorized the following
statement when asked today for an
opinion regarding legislation en-
acted in Idaho by the present legis-
lature affecting Mormonism:
II am not surprised that the leg
islature passed laws which were
intended to be ineffective so far as
polygamous living is concerned.
1t was plain that the republican
leaders intended to do this when
Mr.. Hunt, member. of the Nor
mon church, was elected speaker
and given the appointments Of the
various committees.
1T seems from Idaho papers
that even the Intellectual laws
which were passed have been
amended somehow and some where
so that they will not be unconsti-
tutional. What the democracy of
Idaho demanded in the last cam
paign was the passage of laws
against unlawful cohabitation and
for change of venue law. Mr..
Richards, who introduced bills
providing for the punishment of
those living in unlawful cohabita-
tion and for a change of venue,
stated, l understand. that it was
not intended for each of those now
living in polygamous relations who
entered into those relations prior
to the manifesto of 1890. Mr..
Richards, of course, meant by this
that it was not the desire to disturb
such we'll known polygamists as
President Bulge.
The congress of the United
States, l believe. intends to provide
laws under which the head of the
church, Joseph r. Smith, can be
convicted in Utah. President Smith
testifes before the senate committee
that he had FIVE wives and forty
two children, and that each of his
wives had borne him children since
the manifesto. Public sentiment
in Utah is such and the power of
this hierarchy is SO great that not
withstanding that there are laws in
Utah to punish President Smith.
they will not be enforced.
''The democracy of Idaho intends
that laws shall be passed which
will punish those openly living in
polygamous relations. President
Bulge was appointed by one gov
ernor since statehood regent of the
state university. He was elected
to the state senate in 1893 and he
testified over his own signature. in
Idaho. in written communication,
that he had three wives and he
testified befor the senate committee
here that he had three wives. and
that he was living with them in
polygamous relations. and that
they had borne him children since
the manifesto. The Gentle peo-
pie of Idaho, regardless of politics,
do not encourage and will not tol-
crate polygamous living. and dur
ing the last campaign they made
their disapproval Of this fact so
plain that the republican leaders
promised the people that the repub-
lican party of Idaho would pass
the necessary laws to put a stop to
these practices.
my judgment is that the DEM
ocracy of Idaho will. continue the
fight on the lines laid down in the
last campaign, and also that unless
this legislature corrects its mistake
and passes laws which will be effec-
tive to correct these evils, that the
Gentiles of Idaho will give the
democrats power to enact such leg
islation.
1T is known that polygamous
MAJ aAIlageS are De1nX contracted con-
stantly and parties contracting them
reside in Idaho.
when l use the illustration of
President Bulge l wish to point out
the fact, using him as an example,
that unless you can pass laws which
will reach him, a self-confessed DO
lygamist, you cannot reach any 9TH
er polygamist, new or old. in Ida
ho. "When | use the illustration
of President Smith l wish to point
out the fact that unless congress
can secure the passage of law un-
der which he can be convicted. no
other polygamist, new or old, in
Utah can be convicted. NV i'm
preston is that the Idaho legisla.
ture and the republican organiza-
ton is not fooling any one in Ida
ho."
Mr.. Jackson, chairman of the
state central committee