The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-06-02
THE EVIDENCE OF PoLYGAMY.

that the president of the Mormon church
is the custodian Of evidence in casos
where members Of his orga nization have
taken new wives since the manifesto.
The Deseret News and other hireling5
of the hierarchy have denied that Jo-
seph i. Smith knows anything about
these matters. Even the alleged prophet
himself has testified upon oath that ne
was not aware Of any such infTactions
of the law, with the knowledge of him
self or the church.
The chief recorder Of the Salt Lake
Temple gave some testimony at Wash
iugton which is somewhat interesting
as touching upon this subject. When
the temple recorder was supoenaed by
the Senate committee he was instructed
TO take to Washington with him the
books containing the records Of mar
riages The recorder appeared before
the committee with record OF "seal-
ings,' which was a perfectly harm
less document, 80 far as new polygamy
was concerned. But even this record
was taken to Washington only after a
most careful examination of its cen
tents, and a long conference with the
president of the church as to which
books they would deign to send to the
Senate committee.
While on the witness stand, the re-
corder testified that he could not bring
any one Of the record books without
the consent Of Joseph F. Smith. He
also said that there were many records
left behind; that these contained in
formation Of marriages in the temple (;
that the president had given no permits
sion to have them taken to Washing
ton.
Through the whole of that testimony
the fact was made apparent that the
prophet himself was the eventual Gus
todian of the marriage records; that it
was his will that was required as to
their production, and not the subpoena
Of the Senate. But it was also mani.
fest that they contained the most dam
aging evidence against the church and
its authorities, and that they were with
count.
Suppose an infdel or an atheist, OF
q non~religionist Of whatsoever descrip-
ton, were to 60 to any Of the Christian
churches of today and ask permission
to see the marriage records which they
hold. Would he be denied the privi-
legel Not at all, But let even the
Senate of the United States demand
similar information from the Mormon
church, and what is the RESULT The
books are withheld in guilty secrecy.
What is there in them that would cause
the high priests Of the Mormon church
to refuse access to themi They sim
ply contain proofs of sin and lawless~
ness, whose exposure TO the public
knowledge would arouse this whole Ma
tion. The hierarchs would not produce
these proofs, any more than they would
recite the wording of the temple oath,
which has been shown to contain SEN
timents Of disloyalty and treason toward
the Government and people of the
United States.
The reluctance in both cases is in.
spired by fear of letting the truth be-
come known of men. 1t is the dodge Of
guilt; the consciousness Of wrong doing.
Surely, no man who is legitimately mar
ried will object to that fact being pub
licly known; IN fact, he welcomes that
publicity as good citizen, and IS one
desiring to have unquestioned recogni-
ton for his children. The leaders Of
the church can not say that the mat
ter Of marriage (whether performed
within the temple, and according to the
rites Of the Mormon church, or not) is
not of public interest. Information
concerning all marital unions Is the
Of the public, and not of any
particular sect. For the safeguarding
OF the commonwealth in this respect,
laws are established by communities.
But the hierarchs, following their
wontod custom in this, as in all other
have determined to be a law
unto themselves. No matter what the
nsages Of society, they must have way
Of their own.
However, the whole method is one
Of stealth, and is inauguratsd for the
sole purpose Of protecting those Of the
faithful - who "hve their religion -
by breaking the law Of the State and
aefylng the sentimentalities Of Chris. |
tlan civilization. Criminal guilt is
stamped upon the face Of any refusal
20 give the fullest publicity to my core.
mony which has to do with the public
morals. There can be no other reason
ng applied TO the practice.
And coming to the point Of custody,
he testimony of the temple recorder !
showed undeniably that the ultimate
'aTeteher of the records is the president
II ths church. He ID responsible. there.