Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-23

things considered. u was better for the
state to bear with It IN patience until the
people who occupied these relations, in the
process OF time, should pass away"
As to the charge that there have been
polygamous marriages since the manifesto.
he said that he had no means Of knowing
how many such cases there might have
been. but that there had been some he had
no doubt. These men occupied wholly
different position from the old polygamists.
for them no word OF excuse or federation
could be uttered by any honest man.
ChHrch In Politics.
Discussing the question OF the interfer-
ence OF the church In political matters, he
traced the church history, showing when
the Mormon people went to Utah in iSH
their movement possessed all the character
istics OF a religious exodus. In the Begin
ming they probably felt no need OF a civil
government at all. when a civil govern
ment was formed the religious leaders be-
came their civil ofacers. Eventually the
rule OF the church became more and more
until the government In Utah was q
ritual theocracy. The gentiles, who or
ganzed under the name Of the liberal
party sought to overthrow polygamy and
hurch control I'm Cover nment matters, while
the Mormon people in opposition organised
the peoples party. For twenty years the
hght was altogether pSo-church and anti
church in character, In 1891. after the poly
gamy manifesto the peoples party was
abandoned and organizations effected along
national party lines Since then. while
charges OF church interference have been
made from time to time. and while thors
may have been instances OF interference
by leading officlsls in politics on the
whole there has been marvellous advance.
In electing officers the gentiles had NOT
been. on the ground that they were gem
tiles. unfairly treated by Mormon voterS
said Mr.. Sutherland He thought that there
was at least no more disposition on the
part Of Mormons TO vote against gentiles
than there was on the part OF gentiles to
vote against Mormons.
Conditions Are Better.
IT do not say that conditions are perfect
in Utah: they are not perfect anywhere;
but I do say that conditions are immeas-
urably better today than they have ever
been before and they will be better in
the future than they are today. / do not
claim that there are no evils among thsN
people, some remnants Of the old objection
able conditions still persist, but do claim
that these evils are fewer in number and
less in extent than they have ever been
before, and in my judgment 1t is only
matter of short time until they will be
eradlcated altogether"
Mr.. Sutherland declared that any charge
that life or property was In the slightest
degree unsafe In Utah. that the people or
disrespect the flag, OF that there was any
feeling Of hostility toward the general
movement was cruel falsehood.
Mr.. Smoot himself, said Mr.. Sutherland,
had always insisted the practice Of poly
gamy should be Abandoned; he had never
been polygamist and not a line of testi-
mony could be found to indicate that he
had ever advocated the practice OF poly
gamy He said Mr.. Shoots whole life haa
been clean and above reproach, that the
demand OF the petitions that he should be
removed from the United States senate in
order that he might not from that exalted
place make war upon the American home.
was hysteria, pure and simple.