Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-01-18
DEspIcABIE TACTICS,

A protest, prepared many months ago
that was circulated IN this city
and signed by a number OF
people young and old, MS such
documents are usually signed, 'on
request" has been presented to tho
committee Of investigation at Wash
tngton Just as the proceedings are be-
Ing brought to a close. This has been
delayed 80 ns 10 leave no time for the
respondent to question It's authenticity
examine any Of the slgnew or alleged
ggners or test It on cross-examinatlon.
Observe, too, that It has been admitted
over the protest Of the attorneys AFTER
counsel for the professors announced
the close OF testimony on his side lie
reserved the right only to call such
witnesses as had been subpoenoed ana
who had not yet appeared II they could
be had. This he announced ON Tuesday
December 49, 1904
The fairness OF occupying many
months in hearing testimony on one
side Of the case and then limiting the
other 10 less than two weeks, WIN
doubtless appeal to that sense Of justice
supposed to inspire the average Amerl-
can citizen. The disposition to give
every possible advantage to the side
that has been called the prosecution
and now to shut off as curtly as pos
aible the defense must be wildly appar-
ont 10 all beholders And the Introduce
tlon Of subjects and testimony utterly
irrelevant TO the question Of Senator
Shoots right to his seat, Is SO patent
that It has provoked strong comment
even from vehement antl-'Mormon'
sources.
But as to the document with its sig
natures that has been introduced III
such an improper manner 1t was
framed under the pretext that President
Smith IN frankly stating his family at
fairs used the word "condoned' III
describing the general sentiment here
as TO the relations Of certain Nor
mons" TO their plural wives, married to
them previous to the manifesto The
witness simply conveyed the fact that
there was what Is known as "a
taolt understanding Of that kind
and that It was shown In the apathy
as TO prosecutions for unlawful cohabi-
tation unless IN such cases as were
made prominent by special clreum-
stances and legal complaints.
The idea that nom Mormons" en-"
oouraged. or aided or gave countenunce
20, or coincded with these conditions
was not asserted or intended TO be un-
derstood. But that was spread abroad
by agltators here and some very good
people, as we'll as others whose lives
would not bear close scrutiny signed
the protest under the Impression or pre-
tense that they were being msrepre-
scented.
one OF the witnesses ON Monday ex-
planned that the word "condoned' was
scarcely applicable TO the public sentl-
ment on this matter, but the word 'tol'
Grated" expressed Il better THAI Is corr
rect. "Condonc' i'm one definition means
ITO forgive" But it also signifies ito
overlook" ITO refrain from furnishing"
Consult the Century ana otheo dIction-
aries ana see Now It Is well known
that a number OF "Mormons well up
In years were living with their rcspec-
tive families, plural or otherwise, and
there was n common disposition TO let
them alone, II rs the sheerest hypoc-
risy 10 deny this It Is true, perhaps,
that the actual relations of some men
IN this respect were not public until
made so by the luQuisltou IN which
they suhmutedand which brought them
into prominence, But the general stu-
alton was we'll understood, as hundreds
OF as good citizens AS any who felt ag-
grleyed al the testimony cxtorted can
possibly be- are reudy To testify
That these otfeuses were overlook
ca and mot punished is so patent
and well admitted that every fulmmd-
ed person here was startled at lts de-
NAL We could quote from scores OF
newspapers that huye frankly acknowl-
edged their Acquaintance with the SIT.
uation ana tine announced general de-
sire that these OLD cases should not Do
disturbed, but allowed to die out with
the lapse of timo
The pretended spasms OF rrltated vir.
tue over this avowal thoroughly dis.
gusied people who know something OF
the lives Of the chief agitators Ant
tho alaCrity with which ID ptu,her al