The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-03-02
Proposed Anti Polyeamy
Amendment

1t would be much more practicable TO
secure the adoption Of Constitutional
amendment prohibiting polysamy than
Of one providing for the national con-
troll and regulation OF marriage and d.
vorce. Senator Bracket has introduced
a resolution In the Legislature calling
for a convention TO frame such an
amendment and requesting the Legis-
laturcs OF other States to adopt similar
resolutions.
The object of Senator Brackets res
olution is commendable, but his plan,
though II is constitutional, seems un-
necessarily roundabout and cumber-
some.
II isn't necessary TO work up antl-po-
lygamy sentiment In this country. 1t
exists already and Is easily evoked. Ar
ticlc V. OF the Constitution provides
that whenever two-t thirds OF both
houses Of Congress shall deem II neces-
sary that body Ghall propose amend
ments which. when ratified by the
Legislatures Of three -fourths of the
several States, or by conventions I'm
three-fourths Of them. as may be de-
termined by Congress. shall be valid TO
all intents and purposes.
The other plan of initiative Is the one
Senator Brackett has chosen Under
this plan convention may be called for
devising a Constitutional amendment
of two-thirds of the several States, and
the further proceedings shall be the
same as In the case OF an amendment
proposed by the two houses of Con-
gress.
The Congressional Initiative is more
direct and speedy than the other.
Should a committee In either house of
Congress report In favor of n conven-
tion to propose an anti polygnmy
q would h, n mood nj
any prolonged debate on the PROPOSE
tion I'm Congress. II put to n vote with>
out the delivery OF a single speech no
man In either the Senate or the House
would venture a negative vote upon IL.
IT Is because tine Issue Is not squarely
made that what may prove TO be
serious social and political menace In
certain OF the Western States is not
promptly outlawed under the national
Constitution.
The argument against such action
has been that polygamy was q purely
local evil practlced by only one sect of
relicionists and was dying out. 1t has
been held that therefore II should not
be dIgnifcd by express Constitutional
prohibition any more than n number OF
other kindred vices. But. as n matter
Of fact, polyEamy has maintained Itself
rs a live issue In this country ever
since the Mormons settled In Utah II
not before, IT gives vitality TO the hos
tility OF the Mormon hierarchy to the
Government and laws Of the United
States Al one time before the civil
war It was at the foundation Of n re
bellion against the Government which
compelled the dispntchinG of an armed
body Of troops TO Utah to restore the
authority OF the flag, and today, despite
all the laws against 1t, all pledges and
promises made TO abandon IT, the presi-
dent Of the Mormon church and many
OF his chief advisers are openly living
In the practice OF this crime
Possibly the movement Senator
Rrackett has initiated may spur Con-
gTcss 10 take some action In the matter.
Otherwise. let the agitation be carried
on and q convention called by two
thirds OF the Legislatures OF the sew
cral States nut an amendment I'm mo-
ton which viii throw the whole weight
Of the Constitution against this shame
ful abomination I'm some of our West
ern communities and States.-RoChcs-
ter Democrat and Chronicle