Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-09-22

morality and the law that every
person who believes in the doctrine
OF the Mormon church. other thar
the polygamist principles, shall be
prevented from exercising the rights
4 citizenship, or shall be held up tC
disgrace and ridicule before the
world. have been among these peo-
pie for many years. and have found
countless numbers Of them in their
homes, living frugal, peaceful indus.
trious, respectable lives, not in poly
gamy, but in the love Of their one
wife, and in the love of their child
rem, living respectable. intelligent, in
GustriouB lives
have asked the plain question OF
them, time and time again, and
most always ask it, IL they believe in
polygamy, and / invariably receive
the answer that they do not. I am
not bit shy about questioning them
because / do not recognize that part
of the old Mormon doctrine as re-
lgion at all. recognize it as the
r. lie of barbarism, which the younger
generation of Mormon, is driving out
and discarding and denouncing as be-
ing no part of their religion.
Talk about the republican party be-
ing in favor of the Mormon doctrine
o. the Mormon church. or polygamy,
or of sheltering or shielding them.
They do themselves dishonor when
they make such statements because
they know they are not true. They
know that the republican party
placed the stamp of disapproval upon
polygamy and wrote prohibition in
rs ho trt- I,nf
makes it impossible for a polygamist
or a man who believes or teaches
polygamy to vote at any election in
this, state without committing a crime.
Why, they would have you believe
that the door was wide open, and that
they were soaring like the guardian
angel above it in white wings ana
robes to protect you in the purity of
the home and that in their hands
rested the destiny of the homes OF
America
l was astonished to hear my coll
league in the senate call attention to
this provision in the constitution the
other night and then seem to fail to
that he had read himself
cut Of court. see men in this au-
dience who sat with me in that con-
convention and who help
ed frame this provision. 1t came be-
fore committee of whom l was the
chairman-the judiciary committee of
that body. 1t was considered there
as to its legality and conformity with
the limitations of the constitution of
the United states, as to the restraint
of the right of suffrage; and see
other members here VINO sat with
me. 1t was intended to do just what
4, k01 10 ~
ard what they never attempted to do
when they had the power. 1t is only
\ few years since the time when SEN
ator Dubois was elected to the SEN
a,e, when they had the power. and
the majority and the administration
in this state to pass any law they
wanted to. But polygamy did not
seem SO heinous an offense at that
line because 1t was pOlygamist votes
n part that elected him, my esteemed
colleague, to the senate.
a got the roll call of the senate to-
lay in order that I might see who
,oted on that question and how they
i,ted. l am not going to bother you
iery long with this Mormon question,
,ut I want you to know that we are
lot in such desperate straits as they
. ould have you believe
The provision of the constitution
'eads thus: mo person Is permitted
% vote, serve as Juror. or hold any
civil Office who is unuer guardianship.
diotic or insane; or who has, at any
place, been convicted OF treason. fell
my, embezzlement Of public funds,
or selling or offering to
'arter or sell. his vote, or purchasing
n offering to purchase the vote OF
another, or other infamous crime.
Ind who has not been restored to the
lights Of citizenship, or who at the
ime of such election, is confined in
'rison on conviction of criminal
or who is tigamist or poly |
.amist, or is living in what Is known
IS patriarchial, plural or celestial
marriage, or in violation of any law
I this state, or of the United States |
orbdding any such crime, or who in |
ny manner teaches. advises, counsels |
ids or encourages any person to en-
or into bigamy, polygamy or such
atriarchial, plural or celestial mar
iage, or to live in -''-'ation ofany
uch law, or to commit any such
rime; Or who Is a ~"ember of OF
to the support, aid or en-
engagement of anv order, organi-
alton, association, corporation or
ociety which teaches, advises, coun-
els, encourages or aids any person
enter into bigamy. polygamy or
lch patriarchial or plural marriage,
which teaches or advises that the
lws of this state presc rLius rules cf
lvil conduct are not the supreme law
the state;" thus so far, the rest Of
applies to the Chinese and Indians,