The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-28
.[EARNS CHARGES
POLYGAMY PLOT
.etiring Senator Asserts the
Leaders Break the
Laws. j;
|ACRED COMPACT Is
WILFULLY VIOLATED
.postles, He Says, Are Working
to establish Plural Mar
riage System.

Washington, Feb. 2s.-Bidding fare
1,e]l. he Saws, to public life, Senator
learns of Utah today, in the senate,
fade definite charges Of law violation
Ind broken faith on the part Of the
haders of the Mormon church..
/ It was when Senator Dubois anti
1olyeamy resolution was laid before
dle senate that Senator kearns spoke.
Mr.. Kearns said he could not permit
Ine occasion to pass without saying
that it seemed should be said by a
stnator, under such conditions, before
1eaving public life. He then reviewed
lne history of Utah and recited the
conditions under which statehood was
Granted. He said:
y The pledges given by the people Of
tab. I believe, consisted Of the following
y ropositions:
= That the Mormon leaders would live
,ithin the laws pertaining to plural mar
Sage and the continued plural marriage
9,lation and that they would enforce this
litigation upon all Of their followers, un-
lar penalty Of disfellowship.
! That the leaders of the Mormon church
+,ould no longer exercise political sway
nd that their followers would be free and
i ould exercise their freedom In politics.
II business and In social affairs.
Compact Wilfully Broken.
utah secured her statehood by q solemn
$mpact made by the Mormon leaders in
1ehalf Of themselves and their people.
p That compact has been broken wilnllly
lad frequently.
No apostle Of the Mormon church has
- ublicly protested against that violation.
4 know the gravity of the utterances that
: have just made. I know what are th7
robabIe consequences to myself But I
ave pondered long and earnestly upon
his subject and have come to the conclu-
Ion that duty to the innocent people Of
~ state and obligation to the senate and
,le country, require that I shall clearly
,.ef1ne my attitude.
5 Mr.. Kearns said that the question
# religion is not involved, and he
'assed from that subject to the social
spect with brief comment. The So
ial autocracy, he said, at present is at
IS high point as it has ever reached.
President a Monarch.
He described the surroundings and
- he powers Of President Smith, who
Pc said, affects a regal state and has
established himself with the dignity
| f a monarch.
"In all this social system,' said Mr.,
learns, "each apostle has great part
he is inseparable from it. He wields
.ow such part of the power as the
slonarch may permit him to enjoy; and
t is his hope and expectation that he
~ .ill outlive those who are his seniors
"a rank in order that he may become
.he ruler.'
Church and Monopoly.
Taking up the business policy Of the
mounts to a monopoly. He recited the
oldings Of President Smith, by virtue
p his office as well as his private hold
|Engs, and said that when Smith became
while now he "is in receipt Of an in
lFome like unto that which a royal fam
\ ly derives from q national treasury
)ne tenth Of all the annual earnings
Ibf all the Morn1ons in all the WORLD
i lows to him. These funds amount tc
100000 annually" Continuing, Mr.
-1P{earns said:
III Parties are nothing to these leaders
Except as parties may be used by them
Ito long as there is q republican admins
hation and congress. they will lead thei
Followers to support the republican tick
Hts; but IT, by any chance. the democratic
lE,arty should control this government
IPvith a prospect Of continuance in power
Hsou would see a gradual veering aroun,
Handler the direction of the Mormon lead
Prs. No be elected to eithe
lElouse Of congress against their wish.
la Humiliation Of Apostle.
Iii The election Of Senator Rawlins was
Enlarged by Mr.. Kearns to have beer
lue entirely to the Mormon churchIi
order to humiliate deposed apostle
Tile then took up the charge that h
I >Kearns) had bought his own sea
rom President Lorenzo Snow. TIL
senator spoke Of his friendship 70
President Snow as having arisen from
he events attendant on Utah g strug
gle for statehood and added:
II For some reason he did not oppose m
lection to the senate. Every other candi
late for the place had sought his favor
II t came to me without price or solicitatio
N my part
The friends and mouthpieces of som
# the present leaders have been has
,nough to charge that I bought the sena
T orship from Lorenzo Snow, president {
heir own church. Here and now de
bounce the calumny against that old ma,
whose unsought and unbought favor cam
10 me in that contest.
I am about to retire from this place
dignity. No man can retain this sea
rtrom Utah and retain his self-respect al
II Ter he discovers the methods by which HI
jr Election is procured and the objects whic
The church monarchy intends to achiev
< Church Chose Senator.
When the question Of my successor b.
,alne matter of great anxiety to nume
,us aspirants for this place. the discu!
sion was not concerning the fitness I
y candidates nor the political popularity
ol he various gentlemen who composed tn:
waiting list, nor the pledges of the legi