davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1905-06-01

A Mariana Bcnno Iercais 8 ses e
demAndado an;cs nenuoaado su-
senie &c cs;z lsla.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-22
Mormon 0aths Long Known.

The Mormon oatils have long been
known to the women organizations
which have maintained missionaries in
Mormon districts. The missionaries had
them from persons who did not dare
to make them public for fear of perse-
cution. Nor did the women ask them
TO make them public lest they should
suffer for il.
The Women's Christian Temperance
Union put lecturers into the field to ex-
pose the true state of affairs among the
Mormons, among them DR.. Elliot. dea-
coness of the Episcopal Church. who had
lived in the northern part of Utah and
in Salt Lake City. As a physician she
knew whereof she spoke. Another was
Ms. White, of Philadelphia. a teacher
in a Utah mission school for three
years.
lat present Mrs Maria Weed is N
the field She recently spent seven
months in Salt Lake City. While she
was there she was approached by a
Mormon high in the church, who at
tempted to convert her. AS is the GUS
tom of Mormon missionaries, she was
shown only the beautiful side of the
religion-it has a beautiful side-and its
gross features were carefully kept in
the background But Mrs White was
not idle while she remained among the
Mormons She collected many of the
Mormon works which have since proved
valuable in the night.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-22

to- Also in the case of Roberts the
power of the church IN elections was
well eXemplified- 1t was shown in his
testimony that he had run for office
without the consent of the church, and
that he had 1.@en defeated. But after
he bad paid suitable Difference to the
church he was selected by the officials
of the church and run for Congress.
When the Mormons next sent a man
to Congress they chose a high official
of their church, but one against whom
it has not been possible to prove polyg-
amy. But Reed Smcot is one Of the
hierarchy Of the church He IS one of
fifteen. eleven of whom il has been
proved are polygamists He could not
have become a member OF this hierarchy
had he not subscribed to the oaths Of
the endowment house BY these oaths
he must have sworn allegiance to the
church before everything Now he takes
a solemn oath in the Senate TO serve
the United States Government in all
things and before all things He cannot
remain true to both. He must break
his caths TO the Mormon Church to be
a Senator II he has broken faith once
what is there to prove that he Will
not do so again, the second time more
easily than the first?
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-22
Mornons Likened to a Soda Fountain.

Many persons are surprised to hear
OF the large number OF converts made
by the Mormon missionaries every year
But there is no cause for surprise. Nor
monism is like soda-water fountain.
1t is drawn according TO the taste OF
the drinker- Its flavor can be readily
changed TO please different paIates.
Only the bright and appealing side is
presented TO the possible converts.
The Mormon training is as rigid along
the line of secrecy as was that of the
Spartans in hardihood. They hide in
stinctively, everything that Will harm
their cause One strange result of this
training is the fact that no matter how
many Mormosas there may be in one
party there is always one man who acts
as spokesman for all The rest never
interrupt. never make suggestions
Since L have represented the Nom-
ems Christian Temperance Union and
the Interdenominational Council CT
Women in the anti-polygamy campaign.
l have lectured in fifteen different
States Everywhere the Mormons have
done their best To refute my arguments
They have come to my lectures, taken
notes. and raised questions after 1 had
finished spea king. There have been as
many as thirty Mormon elders IL at
tendance at one lecture. They alwa-s
send me word that they are to be there.
They have tried intimidation. but that
failed, too.
Il Wen remember one attempt to
brighten me. At a lecture delivered in
Congrega tioraI Church there were
three Mormon elders present. During
the course of my lecture l told a story
of Mormon VINO had cut his wife's
throat because she had objected 20 his
taking a second wife. He did this not
because she opposed him, but because
she opposed the teachings of Brigham
Young. who. the McrnlonS hold. was
the mouth of God In the Mormon be-
lief after such heresy she could only be
saved from eternal damnation by the
shedding of her blood This is the doc
trine of blood atonement And so he
cut her throat. Nothing was ever done
to this man.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-22
Attempt to Convert Mrs. Weed.

No enc who has heard Mrs. Maria
Weed tell the real truth about Mormon
ism and the Mormon Church would fail
TO realize the gravity of the situation,
not alone for the States in which the
Mor1nons have a strong foothoId, but
for the entire country. Mrs Weed is al
present in Washington, attending the
hearings of the Smoot investiga ton
When l first went to Utah, in 1900, l
had no mere idea of the actual con-
ditions prevailing among the Morrnons
than an unborn babe. That poIygamy
still existed / would as soon have be-
ueved as that the world was fiat and
any one sailing on the edges stood in
danger of dropping OF into space. But
was soon undeceived. 1t was whisper
ed me at luncheon, while the servants
were out of the dining room-nearly all
the servants in Salt Lake City are Nor
mons 1t was thrust upon me in hun
dSed different ways ] saw that while
the Morzn0ns were making promises to
the Government they were laughing an
their sleeves.
1T was known that was q press cor
respondent. The Mormons knew that l
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-22
Here a Wife, There a Wife.

While there are no records TO be
found OF plural marriages today, they
take place frequently A man has a wife
here and another one there 1t is i'm
possible 10 keep these things secret The
children are named after the men In
Idaho there has crept into the statutes
a change which. seemingly slight, has
much bearing on the ability of q man
TO have wives in different homes The
original law dealing with polygaEny
read unlawful cohabitation- The word
unlawful has been stricken out and the
word leHd has been substituted. Thus q
man may quietly keep two or more
wives and there be no redress under
the law provided only one OF them II
registered as his wife
The hierarchy of the church is care
fui that no man shall become too strong.
There are numerous little ways OF keep
Ing him down II his ambitions overstep
the bounds which is considered proper.
Polygamy- has been of great service
here An extra wife or two TO care for
has brought many an ambitious man
I'D with round turn and The church
has had no need to bother itself further
with fears OF what might happen II this
ambition was left unchecked
Every man must pay his 1.-THE The
church has no pity. II never eondones
delinquencles in this matter. Recently.
a young man. a member of the church.
was III, ard for long time was I'M
able to pay a 1.-THE of any kind. When
Continued on Page s. This Section,
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-22

The league has arranged to take the
first edition of The Mormon Menace
which is the life and confession of
Bishop Lee, the official assassin of the
Mormon church. When in prison await
ing execution for the Mountain Meadows
massacre Of 100 men, women and chill
dren, he wrote the history of his life,
and revealed the secrets of the Mormon
leaders, with whom he was associated
for many years. Alfred Henry Lewis
has arranged the book and has written
a powerful arraignment of Mormonisn
of today as u preface. The book if read
Will show the real facts concerning the
Mormon hierarchy and viii prove that
it is d conspiracy rather than a re-
hgien-
THE National League will use what
ever profit there may be from the sale
of the book TO prosecute its work Of
protecting the country from the polyg-
amous and reasonable teachings and
practice of Mormonism-'
THE league has gained rapidly in
strength, and is allied with all the
movements which look to the accom-
plishment of this purpose.
For home, for country, for patriotism,
for love of childhood, for honor of Chris
tan manhood and womanhood, the con-
spirators who are sapping the founda-
tions of the home, and seeking 70 con-
troll State and nation must be exposed,
and their power oyerthrown."
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-22
Maudlin Sentiment for Plural Wives.

II have no sympathy with the maudIin
sentiment about the condition of polyg-
amous wives The law is plain that
there shall be no plural marriages. Tie
women should realize what they are go
ing into before they take the final step.
If man commits bigamy there is no
talk about his living with both of his
wives, or any sorrow expressed that
he does not do so. There has been a
tendency on the part of numerous per-
sons to condone the fault of the pviyg-
amous wives of the Mormons. This is
a mistake
The apostles and men in authority
are very rich, and can easily provide
for the maintenance. care, and educa
ton of their children with their separ-
ate mothers. If they care to keep their
pledges to the United States and their
oaths of amnesty Poor men do not
support their many families. Each
mother supports herself and her chill
dren. If on a ranch she runs 1t. Often
she supports her husband. So that de-
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-22

tween the church and state is the great
G2nSer, and unless the Government of
the United States takes firm action be-
fore il is too late the Mormo9 Church
VIII have a vast influence Ia me Gov
eminent of the United States Today
the Mormans hold the balance OF power
II four States. CuriCusly enough, these
are the only States in which women
have equal suffrage with men do not
mean that there ere more Mormon votes
cast in these States than there are Dem
ocratic and Republican. But the Nor
mon vote is sufficient to decide the vic
tory or the defeat of any issue that
arises between the two parties The
church practically holds the fate Of
these four States in the hollow of its
hand, For as the church decides, so
the Mormon vote is cast. There is no
halfway stage in the influence which
the church has over its voters. They
vote entirely according to Instructions
What such a power means TO the Nor
mon Church can readily be understood
He who holds Ine balance OF power be-
tween two inimical parties will be
courted. 1t is so all over the world in
every walk Of life The church MAY
mask its purpose, but it Will wiring con-
cessions from hard-pressed politicians.
No other organization in the world
has as complete and firm a grasp Owe.
its members as the Mormon Church. II
dictates to them IN all matters, no mat
ter how important or how trivial. a
man may not run for office without the
consent of the church. He may not en-
gage in business, he may not move from
one place to another without he first
consult the church.
There is apparently no limit to the
wealth OF the church, for each member
is compelled to pay into its treasury
1.-THE, a tenth of everything he earns
and owns. This inexhaustible supply
of money is handed over to the hier-
archy for the benefit of the church. 1t
is used to increase the number of Nor
mons, 10 bring converts to this country,
TO colonize in other States. Every new
convert adds to the continuous golden
stream which flows into the Golfers of
the~church
1T is this great body completely or
ganized for offense and defense that
the women Of this country have fought
so long. When the call came from
! the GentileS in Utah for aid against
the Mormons the Presbyterian Church
was the first to respond, and mission
aries were sent to Salt Lake City. A
womans board was organized to put
schools among the Mormons to save, If
possible, the children. In spite of per-
secutions, the Presbyterians have
maintained their work among the Nor
mons, and the Presbyterian women
have been in close touch with the ac-
tual state OF affairs. and have been
able 10 prove the allegations that the
Mormon Church was false to its prom
ises to the Government of the United
States, Notwithstanding the reports Of
politicians.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-22
Not Since the Days of Peter the Hermit
Has There Been Such Crusade as
That Now in Progress in
This Country.
A Mammoth Army, Recruited From Maine
to Texas ard From the Atlantic to
the Pacific, Confronts
Church Hierarchy.

p CT since the days of Peter the
III Hermit, when the whole Chris
VI tan world Was aroused against
the infidelS has there been a
crusade pushed with such vigor as that
OF the American women against Nor
,nonisnn- The story Of their fight against
that great octopus whose body rests in
Utah. but whose arms stretch grasp
insly into the adjoining States-even in
to Mexico and Canadians been indeli-
bly written in the annals of the past
half century. Today there are 100000
women up in Banded together in
the National League of Wemen's Or
ganizations they form grand army re-
cruited from Maine to Texas and from
the Atlantic to the Pacific:
While the struggle against Mormon
ism has been unceasing for many years,
the election of Reed Smoot, a Mormon
apostle, to the Senate of the United
States not only emphasized the danger
which constantly threatens the country,
but also gave the women a new point
of attack, which they were not slow TO
take up. The Mormon church had
boldly sent one of It's highest officials
to Washington to take part in the legis-
lation of the country. The American
women appealed to the Senate for an in
vestigation. and their request was grant
ed. They engaged counsel, r. w Tay
Ter. OF Youngstown, Ohio. They have
furnished valuable evidence touching on
the case. They have gone to the high
est quarters to seek aid. If, in spite
of all efforts. Smoot is permitted to re-
tain his seat in the Senate they will by
no means reiinquish the fight but will
endeaver to attain constitutional
safeguard the country against polygany
and Mormonism, which they term con-
spiracy against the laws of COG and
State.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-22
MS Maria Wed 3

sertion on his part is not an unmiti-
gated calamity His periodical visits
are often a source of annoyance. They
interrupt the family activity
"A daughter of a Mormon polygamist
said, We drew a sigh of relief when
father left US and went to visit Aunt
Mary Aunt is the title used by Nor
mon children for wife number two or
three ad Hbitum
There is no reason why these poly
gamous families cannot be properly car
ed for. The father of the girl have
just mentioned became an apostate. He
decided to obey ne law. lie put his
second wife and her children on a ranch
| in Idaho. He stocked the ranch and
left her to do with il as she chose. Now
he lives with his first wife only Are
the relations the same as if no plural
wife had ever come into the family?
No, the purity of the first love has
been furnished, the home desecrated.
But the present condition is vastly bet
Ter than before when the wife and chill
dren knew that the husband and father
was ready at any time to show atten-
i; wife had ever come. into the family?
'tIr spite of the fact that Mr.. Smoot
has not been proved poIygamist ne
could not be a Mormon apostle did he
not indorse polygamy. We women
know that the greater numberof the
apostles practice polygamy. For the
purity of the home, for the sake of the
country. we must keep on with the
fight"
An evidence of the colonizing activity
! of the Mormons was recently found in
Idaho One-third OF the population OF
| Idaho is Mormon, but the Mormons
have hitherto been found in the south
ern part of the State, which is separ-
ated from the northern part by a chain
of mountains through which there is no
direct railway connection. For years
! this proved an effectual barrier to the
spread of Mormonism into the upper
half OF the State. But in the past few
months several hundred Morrnons have
crossed or rather gone around this bar
rier and have formed several Mormon
communities and when the time came
for them TO vote they We're right on
deck. This is only one instance of the
manner in which the Mormons push and
spreao through all the Western States.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-22
Whence Converts Come

Very many of the Mormon converts
come from Europe The church draws
hundreds of women from the peasant
classes OF Norway, Sweden, Germany,
England. and Switzerland It is a re-
r.arkahle fact that practically no
French men or women embrace the re-
Iigior of the Latter Day Saints Pos
sibIy this can be attributed TO the fact
that France is Catholic country, and
the strong hold which the Catholic
Church has upon its members cannot
be broken by the Mormon missionaries
Few Catholics OF any nationality have
ever joined the Mormon ranks
In the Southern States the work OF
the Mormon missionaries Is pushed
strongly today. The poor whites" OF
the South, uneducated, eking out a
meager existence, are attracted by the
tales told of the land Of promise, which
the missionaries paint in vivid colors-
Hundreds have been converted and
taken TO Mormon communities in the
west. 1t must be admitted that the
stories the missionaries tell of the
richness OF their country are largely
true
The Mormon community, in reality
a small village. is arranged with the
houses close together and the farms be-
longing to the members of the COM
nunity lie in the surrounding country.
These farms are as a rule kept in the
pink of condition Living close together
as they do, there is nothing done, Moth
ing discussed, by any member OF the
community which escapes the rest Con-
sequentIy the church is constantly in
formed and is in touch with the minutest
"details. The system OF espionage is COM
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-22
D. A. r. Lends It's Aid.

The greatest women's organization
in the country are represented in the
national league to fight Mormonism.
Among them are the National Congress
of Mothers, the Women's Christian Tenn
perance Union. the Daughters of the
American Revolution, and the Interde-
nominationaI Council of Women. AL
though it is unconstitutional for the
Daughters of the American Revolution
to take part in a political or a church
strife, the society determined that its
weight and influence should be thrown
on the side of the anti-Mormon party
because the church teaches treason to
the United States Government. At the
head of the National League of
Women's Organizations, is Mrs Fred
eric Schoff, of Philadelphia. AS presi-
dent of the National Congress of Moth
ers she played prominent part in
the orga nization OF the new league. A
woman of marked ability, she has for
years been interested in the fight against
Mormonism. In a letter to The Times
Mrs Schon speaks of the work which
the national league has already done.
and its plans for the future
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-22
The Roberts Fight.

when Brigham III. Roberts was
elected to Congress the Interdenomi-
national Council of Women was
formed to oppose him. There were
representatives of all the churches in
this body. Mrs. Darwin r. James was
elected president, and ex-senator Car
Isle was employed as counsel to repre-
sent the organization in the investi-
cation. It was through the women
that the sentiment was finally aroused
against Roberts, which after#ard
spread throughout the country.
Although the Mormons knew that
he was a lawbreaker, polygamist,
they elected him. They Haunted in the
face of the country the fact that they
not only had not kept their pledges to
the United States, but did not intend
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-22
Women Will Figat Till the Last Gasp.

THE National League of Women's
Organizations has furnished counsel for
the Smoot investigation. It VIII retain
counsel to continue the work necessary
to free The country from conditions
which are so serious in their significance
that concerted, definite systematic work
must be done to check the continuance
OF pelygany, of church domination in
politics. and of PROSECUTING under false
promises. and of teaching polygauy and
Morrnonism in over 800 public schools
of Utah
Unless Congress acts promptly and
decisively, the power of the hierarchy
VIII have attained such proportions that
no adverse legislation can be enacted
Foreign countries have been warned
of the true character of the Mormon
hierarchy, and OF the conditions in Utah
and adjoining States.
The National League viii seek to edu-
cate public opinion as tc the real facts
OF MorTnonism. believing that the truth
Is the best protection against It's growth
1t VIII not bear the light
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-22
Mormons Try Intimidation.

After had finished speaking The Nor
mon elders came up 20 me. as usual one
Of them acting as spokesman The
minister OF the church introduced them
10 me. The spokesman talked to me
gently. and said that he was sorry that
l received such false impression OF
what Mormonism really was. I hope,
my dear lady he said. that YOU will not
tell that story OF the blood atonement
again The Mormon Church does not
preach murder.
How does the Mormon Church de-
fine murder?' I asked
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-22

would write about the conditions in
Utah. Therefore they approached me
in an end=avor to convert me TO their
faith or at least tc conciliate me- =
man high in the church was selected
TO instruct me in the tenets of Nor
monisn. and well he did it. He said
10 me. There IS nothing immoral in our
belief, nothing that the purcst woman
in the Land cogld not subscribe to. and
if you VII permit me 10 supply. you with
literature on the subject. and 10 ex-
plain to You the true doctrine of our
church l have no doubt that You will
see its beauty
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-22
poiygamy Not the Worst CT Mormonism

"Polygamy. though against the law,
is today practiced widely among the
Mormons. But polygamy is by no means
the worst part of the case against the
Mormon Church. Complete union be-
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-22
'tPolygamy Notthe Worst
of Mormonisnn, Says
Mrs. Hamlin.
"A Union of Church and
State IS the Great
Danger.
Mrs. Maria Weed Re-
lates Her Experiences
in Salt Lake City.

AS the shedding Of blood he re-
Piled
:. AS the shedding of innocent blood I
retorted- And what is more, no blood
is considered innocent by the Mormon
Church except that Of those who sub
scribe TO the doctrines taught by the
church,
THE Mormon elder had nothing to
say TO this But when the minister IN
whose church we were, turned aside
for moment the Mormon leaned close
to me and said IN a sinister voice. I
warn you never 10 tell that story again.
When the minister turned again toward
US the elder was all smiles, bowling
pleasantly, wishing US goodnight
THE women OF this country are doing
q great work IN this struggle against
Mormonism The men back OF them,
too. For the men realize that even
though the women have no vote when
they feel so strongly there must be
right in the cause Reed Smoot must
r~a