The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-02-01
THE IDAHO SCIMITAR.
Investigation of Apostle SmOOt.


What has been done? There has been no chang,
IN the teaching with regard to poygamy, but, will
the chcanery which has characterized the conduc
OF the Mormon hierarchy in all matters relating t.
polygamy, the attempt is made to deceive the public
by leaving off the year of publication from the new
edition OF the Book of Doctrine and Covenants
thus making it appear that the edition being sold tc
their people is an old one 1t is the old one it:
purpose being only to deceive on-Mormons espe
c1aly Senators who by their votes to seat Smoot
Notwithstanding he was member of the body which
gave the pledge which has since been broken die
more to- rehablitate polygamy than had ever been
done before.
President Roosevelt in his annual message to Con
gress a year ago, recommended the submission of
an amendment to the Constitution of the United
States that would give the Federal Government jur-
1sd1cton over marriage and divorce and that would
prohibit polygamy "Such an amendment" says the
President would confer on the Congress the power
at once to deal radically and efficiently with polyg-
amy; and this should be done whether or not mar
nor proper to leave the question of poygamy to be
dealt with by the several States Power to deal with
it should be conferred on the National Government"
In harmony with the recommendation of the Pres-
dent Senator Burkett of Nebraska has introduced
IN the Senate a proposition to amend the Consti-
tuition prohibiting polygamy only.
Without designing to do, Senator Smoot has
shown in his article in the Review that this amend
ment from the Mormon conception of polygamy, at
least is inadequate and should be made stronger
The matter of polygamous cohabitation," writes
Mr. Smoot, lis quite distinct from that of polygamy'
Had Mr.. Smoot framed the pledge of his associates
when they appealed for amnesty and gave the pledge
for themselves that they would abandon polygamy
and polygamous practices and had he declared their
view in the words he uses in his article in the Re-
view, the pledge of the Mormon church would have
been known not to be sincere, amnesty would not
have been granted, and Utah would not have be-
come State.
Will the Senate fail to see what Mr. Shoots state
ment makes clear that polygamy can be destroyed
root and branch only by an amendment to the Con
That
as we'll as polygamy?
The children born of polygamous marriages are
for the most part defenders of polygamy 1t is nat
honor that they should be recognized as children of
lawful wedlock. Many of them live in the hope
that the time will come when poygamy will be
stored to what they taught by their religious
leaders is its rightful place in the church and the
State. The continuance of polygamous cohabitation
and its fruit in the birth of children increases con-
stantly the number who will labor for the restora-
ton of polygamy, which is not prohibited by the
Mormon church, but is simply suspended For this
reason alone, po1ygamous cohabtation is a worse
evil than would be polygamous marriage without
cohabitaton, if that were possible
Reed Smoot is opposed to an amendment to the
Constitution that would prohibit polygamy and po-
ygamous cohabitation. What he favors is an amend
nent to the Constitution reading: Congress shall
lave exclusive jurisdiction marriage and di-
yorce, and all matters relating thereto' This, he
kinks, would include polygamy and polygamous
labitation. The success with which Mormons have
deceived the Nation with regard to polygamous prac-
ices shows that the only path of safety is to pro-
bit specifically polygamy and poygamous prac-
ices. To Senator Shoots proposition, therefore,
hould be added something like the following: "Po-
ygamy and polygamous cohabitation forever pro-
ibited in any State or territory of the United
States"
Upon this question Congress, particularly the Sen
te has grave responsibility There may be ground
or difference of opinion to the legal aspects of
Ar. Shoots case but if after the widespread api-
alton and the revelations of deceit and law1essness
the Smoot case, action is taken by Congress
, stop the continuance of polygamous practice the
eople will begin to ask, Why does Congress take
action To will