The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-07-08
REACHES ALL MORMONS.

The Tribune has been asked by one
OF the best American citizens in this
community TO publicly state whether
the proposed Idaho test oath, If enacted
into law. would disfranchIse all mem
bers OF the Mormon church resident
within that State
Tho best reply which The Tribune can
make is to cite the inquirer to a re-
cent editorial in the Mormon church
organ In which the unequivocal state
ment-ls made that the framer OF the
test oath 80 worded 1t that 1t would
debar every Mormon from voting"
AS requested by our friendly inquirer,
the proposed test oath is here repro
duced:
Il do solemnly swear that l am a citi-
zen OF the United States, over the age
of twenty-one years: that | have ac-
tually resided within the State for six
months last past. and within the
county for thirty days; that 1 am not
a bigamist or polygamist; that | am
not member Of any church, organiza-
tion or association which teaches, ad-
vises, counselS or encourages its men.,
oers, deYotees or any other person 10
commit the crime of blgamy or po-
lygamy, or any other crime defined by
law as duty arising or resulting from
membership In such church. organiza-
ton or association, or which practices
bigamy OF polygamy or plural or ce-
lestial marriage as q doctrinal rite Of
such organization. That / do not
either publicly or privately. or In any
manner whatever, teach, advise, coun-
sci or encourage any person to commit
the crime. Of bigamy, or polygamy or
a, lid
as religious duty or otherwise. That
l regard the Constitution of the United
States and Of this State. and the laws
Of each as interpreted by the courts, as
the supreme law OF the land Tho
teachings OF any church. organization
or association to the contrary notwith.
standing. and that ] have not voted
previously at this election. So help me
God"
1t is fair to the Deseret News to
point out the particular matter In the
contemplated law which would dis
franchise all Mormons. It consists Of
the words celestial MARRIAGE" ana
the News holds that monogamists In
practice and faith In the church may yet
believe in celestial marriage and may
have been welded under that doctrine
and rite. The Deseret News is an ex-
pert on this subject. and The Tribune
has no desire to contend against this
particular authoritative Interpretation
within tho church, of It's own doc
trines. But The Tribune is quite as
competent as the News to speak of the
intention OF the trainers of the Idaho
test oath. They merely proposed to so
.IA
polygamous church could not escape
under any technical evasion by the use
OF misuse of one word for another. AS
a matter of fact. the church has used
celestial marriage" authoritatively as
meaning plural marriage" and the
Idaho opponents of poiygamy do not
| propose TO take any chances
The News knows all this. 1t Is well
aware that the Idaho test oath is not
, framed to interfere with any mans
belief in the eternity Of the marriage
union between one man and one wo-
man. but Is to reach solely the prac-
tice OF and the support of the practice
of the marriage OF one man to more
than ono woman. Its immediate end
is disfranchisement of adherents Of the
Mormon church, but not because they
hold to the faith that conjugal relation
abides foreyer and forever, but because
their leaders, practice, the church
teaches and Protects and the followers
support the practice of polygamy and
polygantous cohabitation on this earth.
II the proposed test oath, when
enacted Will disfranchise all Mormons
in Idaho--.s the Descret News says II
will-the argument of certain Idaho pa
pers would seem to be well founded;
for they gay that there is no reason