Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-08-03
JOhn P. Meakin Tells New York
ers They Are Much Mistaken
Concerning Them
POL YGAMY IS FAST DYING OUT
People Are United and Earnest aud
Honest in Their CONVICTIONS
Mormon Loyalty.

A recent issue Of the New York Jour
nal contained the following interesting
interview with John +. Meakn OF this
city.
"Momons have no idea Of encourage
ing the practise Of polygamy, and that
feature OF their religion Is fast dying
out said John z. Meakin, Of Salt
Lake City, yesterday Mr. Meakin has
lived among the Mormons since 1869,
and although he Is Christian he de-
tends the sect from the many attacks
that have been made as "A result of the
establishment OF a church in Harlem.
There are 100000 members OF the
Mormon Church." said he. land OF
these only about 800 are polygamlsts,
These entered into the plural marriages
prior TO 1890, when the law against It
was enacted. They are honorable men
and viii not renounce their wives.
In fact the whole subject of poly
gamy has been grossly exaggerated.
There never were at any time more
than per cent OF the Murmons living
in polygamy. Plural marriages were
not enforced, but the man was per-
mitted TO take more than one wife
only when he proved his worthiness
Character and means were required
Hundreds of honorable husbands went
to Jail rather than desert the wives
they had married In good faith
There arc now In Salt Lake city
only "a polygamsts, "A OF these are
over so years OF age; 5S are over 80
years, and the remainder are over 20.
Can New York show so clean a record?
Polygamy Is a dying institution, Why
not let II die quickly and quietly, with
out reviying IT, last breath with the
restoring fan OF opposition? Why not
let II 90 into the past with no epitaph
TO cast its shadow upon living, asplr-
ing striving, honest people?'
THEIR STRENGTH AND GOODNESS
what Is the secret element OF power
that holds the Mormon peopl together
as a unit?" he was asked.
1.-THE strength and goodness OF the
people lie IN their unity. The Mormons
are earnest and honest IN their convic-
lions. They have a fraternity In their
Church which is idealistic, yet real.
Each member Is a brother or sister
to the other. They have a perfect faith
In their leaders which has never been
misplaced, or the FIVE presidents who
have passed away four died poor, and
the other would not be counted among
the wealthy men OF this world
III the Mormons are as good as you
represent them to be, how do you ac-
count for the evils laid at their door?'
"rhe truth s very simple and unat-
traotive. Invent sensational novelty
and you get the mob. Many n half.
starved writer has gotten something
20 eat by inyenting sensational lie
about the Mormons
"Slnce the Church was ortgnized a
prejudlclal war has beeen waged
against II. for no cause whatever, unless
Il be political one, until II has become
popular and fashionable 20 abuse the
Mormons II Is a source OF amusement
10 listen to the stories told about the
people OF Utah. Slush books and vile
stories find ready sale II the plot re-
wolves around a Mormon or some vile
deed depicted therein Is laid at the door
OF the Church"
"Is Il not fact that the various
women's clubs have been the strongest
agitators IN the Reed Smoot question,
and has not this been done in the In
tercst OF morality"
REED SHOOTS VIRTUES.
YES The Mothers club, the W. c.
7. u, are advocates OF purity Of the
home, yet they take into their circles
some Of the vilest men and hold them
up as models, The good women clamor
for the expulsion OF Reed Smoot from
the senate; man who has never brok-
en- moral law; he knows but one wo-
man, his legal wife. and the union
has been blessed with six beautiful
children, types OF intellectual promise.
Reed Smoot has never tasted whls-
ky, never been drunk, never smoked a
cigar, nor used tobacco IN any form. lie
has never played game OF cards or
gambled a cent, He ia a clean, pure,
honest man. His only crime consists in
being a Mormon, Mfr. smoot represents
in his character all the principles the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union
are lighting for, but the mob Ia shout
ing Cruelty Cruoifyl and so, the la
dies fall in line and call Mr. smoot