Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-11-27


sist upon violent disruption OF family
conditions that had existed for many
years before the Manifesto, Children
OF such families had been legitimizod
by acts Of Congress, and even non
"Mormons'' admitted the wisdom OF
permitting fathers to take care OF
their families. and this logically,
whatever may be said to tho contrary,
involved the recognition Of the natural
rights OF men and women who had dur
Ing the old conditions assumed the po-
sItion and responsibilities Of parent
hood. Such were the magnanimous
views Of a majority Of those who gave
thoughtful attention 10 the subject
The nature OF the understanding
was testified 10 by many witnesses
before the Committee on Priv
llegss and Elections OF the United
states Senate during the investigation
OF the case against Senator Reed
smoot. Judge william Mccarty ;esti-
fed that he had reached the con-
cluslon that, "the public sentiment
was against interfering with men In
their polygamotls relations who had
married before the Manifesto" II. y.
crltchlow testified that after the
Manifesto Of 1890 there was no In
clinatlon on the part Of the prescott
Ing officer TO push these matters as
20 present cohabltation;' that
they were disposed to let things CO.
and that that was the general feeling
from the time Of the Manifesto IN
1890 down to very recent times"
Judge Powers testimony on this point
was:
There Is q question for statesmen to
solve, We have not known what was
best to do. II has been discussed and
people would say that such and such
a man ought TO be prosecuted. Then
they would consider whether anything
would be gained. whether we would
not delay instead OF hasten the time
that we hope TO live 10 see: whether
the institution would not flourish by
reason Of what they would term per-
secutlon. And So Notwithstanding IA
protest has been sent down here to
you. / will say 10 you. the people have
aoquesced In the condition that ex-
lists"
William j. Mcconnell. Ex-Governor
OF Idaho, when asked whether there
was any public sentiment In Idaho In
reference TO prosecution for unlawful
cohabtation, said:
1T was understood and agreed when
we adopted our State constitution and
were admitted 10 statehood that these
old Mormons who had plural families
would be allowed TO support their wives
and children without molestation. IL
was agreed by all parties, Democrats
and Republicans alike, that they should
be allowed to drift along We could
under the law have prosecuted these
people and perhaps have sent them to
jail. We could doubtless have broken
up these families, but we felt IL better
that these men should be allowed TO
support these old women and these
children than to further prosecute
them"
r. VI. Holzheimer, leading lawyer
of Idaho, who was practising his pro-
fession IN Utah until November. 1902,
testified:
There have been number Of cases
where children have been born, but in
no case that / know of has II been
done openly And because OF the
peculiar state of affairs it was the
opinion that the whole thing would die
out; that Il was only matter OF a
short time when the question would be
entirely settled, because there would
be no new marriages"
Glen Miller, who was United states
marshal In the Territory OF Utah for
four and half years, testified regard
Ing the sentiment of non-"Mormons"
in Utah, in regard to prosecutions for
unlawful Cancellations between persons
married before the Manifesto:
"well, there has been a sentiment
against that, as there has been against
any informing against any OF the in
fractions OF the law generally. They
have felt that II was only n question
of time, that the practice would die out
through the death Of those who prac-
tised Il and the removal OF that gen.
Grafton
The testimony OF these and many
others prove concluslvely what the gen.
erai understanding was Mt the time the
Manifesto OF President MILFORD Wood
ruff was unanimously accepted by the
Latter-day Saints. II any pledges, or
compacts have been broken, II has been
done by the men who have sworn to
take revenge because the people of
Utah disappointed them In their morbid
cravings for political honors. They
are the pledge-breakers. and their
methods and tactics are as de-
spicable and contemplate as the mo-
tives by which they are Inspired are
selfish and low. Who are they that
the free and liberty-loying people Of
Utah should obey their behests, aud
dance to their music? Upon what art
their claims TO recognition based? Why
should the people OF this State not have
o right TO select their own representa-
tives9 A serious condition confronts
the people when ambition lays hold of
the government OF state and tries
10 annul the win Of the majority by
the aid of the corrupt use OF gold.
When that Is the case it Is pretty near
time that somebody Is raised up 20 be-
come savior OF the menaced institu-
lions Of the country.