Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-06-05
AS TO THOSE PETITIONS.

hatcrs dislike What Wo have published
concerning the attempted trial by pee
uton." Of ihc right OF Senator Reed
smoot 10 ms seat in me United States
senate. That docs uor matter much.
with their accustomed accuracy and
fairness they credit tha prseroi Nevs
with articles copied from eastern jour.
mails. although thc names of those lead
ing newspapers were given as the au-
thors. And that does not matter
much. II it were not for this paper
and the eozeut remarks that Ve occa-
sionally copy from some Of our friend
~ exchanges. the poor scrihes would
be sadly 40 a loss FOR anu-"Momon
pahulum from which 10 fabricate the
stun that forms the only interesting
dish in their daily dole
The right OF petition is not denied IN
far as we are aware. by any person
or paper IN this country But thar right
In order 10 receive serious attention or
have any real weight, must be cNcr-
clsed In a proper way and Tor q proc
per purpose. a petition To o court for
tho conviction or the acquIttai Of nm
accused person. would hc regarded AZ
proof Of ignorance or impudeuce on the
part Of the signers. mo- matter what
might be- their numbers or their stand
ing IN society, The petitions that have
recently been sent 10 the Senate Of the
United states and turned over TO the
committee that was sitting IN judg-
ment ON the Senator'S case. were no loss
improper than II addressed TO a civil or
criminal court.
Nor il the utter falsIty or the state.
ments they contain as basis Tor the
petition. lessened or condoned by the
fact that they were signed by women,
most OF whom we're Of religious procll-
Nities. The manner In which the sig
natures were obtained was not sancti.
fed because, In many instances. con.
gregstions were invited into church
vestries and requested 70 put their
names TO something about which they
knew nothing, except that it was 10 get
a Mormon who was represented TO be-
= polygamist, turned out Of the United
States Senate. It Is published as
great and worthy feat Of an old lady
upwards Of eighty years Of age. that
she sat In front Of her domicle and
urged passers by 10 stop and sign the
petition that had been furnished 10
her and by that means she obtained
an immense List Of signatures
Il has been proved that hosts Of Ia.
dies have Joined IN this Wild cutlery
and endeayor to sway legislators in
their ofiicial duties. under the false
impression that Reed Smooi is poly.
gamist and for that reason the home"
and the family would Doe IN danger
II he were permitted to make laws Tor
The American people. Tho absurdity NJ
The notion that such a member Of Con.
gress could BE- "mcuace" to tho
whole country, never seemed 10 rtriko
me fabricators ~ the f8lsehood not
Their feminine followers It's not sur.
prisng that the latter were easily de.
ceived, for right down 20 the present
time there are newspapers supposed TO
be posted that repeat The palpable or.
ror. Here is the los Angeles Times.
that has frequently exhibited rs malice
mingled with ignorance on this matter
edi'orislly echong the stupid story.
Commenting on me action of the com.
mlttee 1t says
No man ls considered guilty unt1
proof Of guilt has boon e.fabHsbe5
Sinooi was known OBJ be q plIyEamisf
when he was sent 20 The Senate.
II goes oH then to utter the us,,i
phillipics against rolygamy. as though
that had anything Go do with Tho do.
clsion Of The majority of tha, BODY THE
official report of The proceeding. shows
beyond question, that Reed smoo. d.
not and never was a polycam..t. that
in The protest which brought OUT the
Investigation Doe was not charged with
being a pobglmist ana tha, nothing
against Dts personal character was
urged or substauuated. bur the very
contrary was established and admitted.
The los Angeles Express with eoul
lack Of Information. speaks OF aim as.
"A Utah Senator haunting his polly
gamous doctrine ln he face of an lu-
dignant public
Even tht Sacramento Bee which per.
selves the wrong of tbo petition move .
ment and is usually accurate as esl
ss acute on such questions. falls into /
The mistake made by the paper. from
which sc have quoted. while differing .
WITH them oH tae main question. Il .
remarks:
The Bee has never been able r,
understand Hhy Reed >mnIt Ia Dot 49, .
much entitled to Flt loo the Senate 90 .
the United States as any man who has
ever been elected 90 thar body.
Tie declares, ana there % Do shadow /.
~ evidence Oh DE contrary. that r.
has strictly observed 8u Iaus uran
since the passage of Soc EI-
nunds law. AZ the same time De- has
-iFhtmlly and maufuliy refused 90 h8s.
ardjze the children sprung from bus
oins under the Mormon covenant For
hat he should be- praised not CON
iemuei
These are but q few OF the public
journals that have gone astray on THIS
.o'nL Now as 20 the religious minis
tiers OF different denominations 81.
empting 10 influence the United state,
senate ana threatening 80 members 10
hey would not comply with their de-
nsuds. n that be not the intrusion %
= nehurch into the Affairs of state.
"a ia'e She charges sFainu the
~ ~, oNah false ny The WA -,