The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-06-03
SENATOR BURROWS ACTIVE.

II is extremely gratifying to the loyal
American sentiment in Utah to find
that Senator Burrows of Michigan is
keeping alive the fight against polyg-
amy. His paper urging an anti-polyg-
amy amendment TO the Federal Consti-
tuition was copied from Tho 1ndepend.
| ent into The Salt Lake Tribune
yesterday morning. 1t is n most sble
paper, strongly reviewing some of the
salient points in the determination of
the hierarchy here to maintain their
odious lawlessness, despite their pledge
of lawabidlngness rs made in the petit
tior for general amnesty, and by the
presidents OF the church in their inter
probation of the Manifesto; an inter
probation which caused Congress to re.
store the escheatod property on the
express relation that this lawbreaking
had been altogether given up.
Senator Burrows sees tho situation
precisely as it is. There is no conf
dence whatever 10 be placed in the
pledges of the faithless leaders of the
Mormon church. There is no power in
the general Government under the laws
as they exist, to get behind the bar
riers of Statehood and deal with this
question by the Federal power. But it
must be dealt with. The only thing
to do, then, the proper thing, the neces-
sary thing, is to amend the National
Constitution in such manner as 20 give
the Federal power the jurisdiction
which will enable it TO step in and pass
and enforce the necessary laws against
polygamy.
The conclusion is logically irresisti
BILE And the battle should now be
waged on that line. 1t is undoubtedly |
a necessity for this amendment 20 pass. |
And an amendment giving Congress I
jurisdiction over the questions of mar
rage and divorce would be beneficial |
in many ways, aside from settling the
issue in Utah.
1t has been the contention of the
Mormon leaders and writars that po-
ygamy is abandoned by the church
But not so; there is. distinct revival
If polygamy, and this has been so for
ome three years past. The church con-
erences, while apparently wishing to
,e understood from time to time as ,le-
laring against polygamy, have never
quarely done so. The latest declara-
ION on this subject, that given out by
he general conference OF April last.
vas distinctly exculpatory of criminals
vho had transgressed in this particular.
hat the Mormon leaders have always
Undertaken to deceive the country on
mis- question is perfectly evident. If
heir purpose was to abandon polyg-
my, why not say so, distinctly and
quarely2 But no; there is always an
voidance of coming TO this point. 1t
5 led up TO, and then wandered away
rom in a twaddle of words as con.
emptible Us ii is dishonest.
AS a matter of fact, if the Mormon
eaders. were sincere in their profes~
ions of abandonment Of polygamy.
hey would not now suffer their mem
ers TO practice il, and would bring
0 condign punishment every one who
ngaged in it, instead of secretly con
iving at the criminal practice. as they
o, and aiding in protecting the Grim
lals and in secreting the evidence of
he crime. If they were the high
pirited, earnest men that the leaders .
4 great people ought to be, they
'ould be the most Jealous aivoco:es
the amendment which Senator Bur |
ows proposes. and on It's being sub
ntted 10 the States by Congress, they
,ould see that the first State to ratify j
would be Utah. But being Traitors
lithless, edge-breakers, law breakers, I
eceivers, and tricksters, they will con- \
nue. their opposition to such amend S
ent, well knowing that it would inter c
;re with their programme Of persistent i
lplicity and lawlessness, h