Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-02-20

The status of the mel who nal
entered into polygamous malris ges
before the issuance af he manifesto
had been established before that
time. There was no power in wEich
the church could change that ex1s Ing
fact What had been done had been
irrevocably done.
The only question was as To the
future. What should be the attitude
of the people towards those who had
entered into the polygamous status
before the maifesto? This problem
was a serious one.
Prosecutions Were Vigorous.
AT that time all the machinery of
the court in the territory was in the
hands of non Mormon officials, who
had been vigorous in the prosecution
of polygamous relationships. These
recognized the Yexed nature of the sit
uation and extended the olive ranch,
as it were.
AS a relief in his dilema cary an
exercise of forehearance on the part
of the prosecuting officers. The three
assistant United States district at
torneys for that period were E. b.
Gritchlow, Frank b. Stephens and
William Nj. McCartg.
Judge McCarty was inclined to
/ continue prosecutions I'll the cases.
! but the United States district a1or-
Iney refused to allow his accounts
( thereof, and he ceased. Mr.. Critchlow
wrote the principal protest in this
case. and was one of its signers.
IAN these and other government
prosecuting officers testified before the
committee on the cessation Of prose-
ecutlons against the then existing
pofygamous relations and of the gen.
eral sentiment among the non-Mor-
mon people that that was the best and
quickest way to get rid of the whole
question-to let the old-time relations
end in death.
Many PoIysamous Households.
There was a general acquiescence
by the people in this and 1t is work.
ing out complete and final solution.
AT the time the manifesto was adj
opted there were 2,451 polygamous
households in the church.
Careful statistics have been taken
and preserved and will be found in
the testimony which show that this
number has gradually decreased I'M
til there were at the time the testi-
mony closed not to exceed 500 such
households in existance
There are 26 general authorities OF
the Mormon church, including the first
presidency, patriarch. apostals, firA
! council of seventy. and presiding bish-
ops. In 1890 this list of officials was
composed of 20 polygamists and three
monogamists.
Polysanay Apparently Decreasing a
The first presidency and council OF
apostles prior to my selection as an
apostle in 1900, was composed of 10
polygamists and Eve monogamists.
In 1906 these same quorums compris-
ed five polygamists and 1Omonogam-
lists
OF the IA general authorities chosen
cin
"0f the seven apostles chosen since
April, 1890, when l was named, only
one was a polygamist, the other siS
being monogamists. The only polyga-
mist chosen an apostle since 1897 is
now 70 years of age. and entered in,
to the relationship before the mani
festo.
AT the time of his selection as an
years of age. He has been member
of the church for over half a century,
apostle his youngest child was %
performing faithful and distinguished
church service during most Of this
long period.
1T was on account of this long and
faithful service that l voted for him
to be an apostle Nothing would have
induced me to have voted for him II
he had been guilty of taking a plural
wife since the manifesto.
Punish Recent PoIyeamists.
of the 96 memh ers of the presi.
denotes Of the stakes Ecclesiastical
sub-divisions), in 1890, AZ. or about
one half We're polygamists. or the
165 prominent church officials in 1897
the increase In number being because
of the creation of new stakes only
Is, or les than 10 per cent, were poly
gamists.
But, Mr.. President, it is claimed
that there have been new cases of
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