The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-06-12
SUSTAINING POLYGAMY.

Another account Of an interview will
postle Senator Reed Smoot was given
in the Boston Traveller Of June 4tb, II
which that paper says;
He declared that the Mormon church
docs not sanction plural marriages to-
day and that. while the Latter-day Saints
still believe that the Bible sanctions po-
lygamy the edict prohibiting plural mar
| riages extends over the whole world
wherever the church maintains n mission
The edict inhibiting the practice OF
polygamy is dead letter in the Nor
mon church, and it has been rendered
so by the chief officials of that orga-
nization They have killed any effec-
tiveness that it may have possessed Mt
any time by failing to enforce it. They
know that there have been hundreds
Of now polygamous marriages slpce
1890, but they have communicated
none of the guilty parties. These un-
lawful relationships have been entered
into upon performance Of the ceremony
| by holders Of what is called the
Melchisedek priesthood Of the Nor
mon church, yet not one of these law
breaking priests nor of their aiders
and abettors has been punished, either
under church or civil law. These
polygamous marriages have occurred In
the several branches and missions Of
the church in Utah. Idaho, Wyoming
Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Cali
fornia Canada. and Mexico; and a
few have even been celebrated almost
at Boston s door. The Tribune has
printed the names of one hundred and
four of the culprits, and because of
the great secrecy with which the cere-
monies arc surrounded this number
can not possibly be said to represent
any more than about ten per cent Of
the entire lot. But after all that
has been exposed In this matter, and
all Of which is well known TO the chief
authorities Of the church. the criminals
arc not only allowed to go free, but
are honored in ecclesiastical and other
positions AS to any action thai
might be taken against these men III
the church, of course. the ecclcsiasts
have unauestioned control; and mas
much as they control in politics III
Utah. and hold the balance Of polit-
cal power in other States, they are
able to prevent prosecutions unoer the
law. Besides. it is necessary to havo
evidence to convict, and on account of
the fact that they hold and refuse to
furnish this, it would be next to impos-
slble to secure convictions. even If the
officers of the law were disposed to
move. In every manner possible the
chiefs of the church have surreptitious
~ nullifed the Woodruff manifesto of
1890, with the deliberate purpose in
view of encouraging and promoting the
polygomous recrudescence that is now
in full swing.
We have a case In illustration of the
connection that exists as between new
polygamy and church officials. There
is in this city today, as a summer
visitor, one Guy G.. Wilson, He is of
the polygamous colony located in the
Mexican mission of the Mormon church
He married illcgitimarely Anna, the
daughter Of Apostle Anthony w WINS
Wilson is a professor in the Juarez
(Mexico) academy, an institution main.
tanned by the Mormon church He is
here attending the summer school at
the University Of Utah. 1t is unrea
sonable to suppose that any action
Of any nature would be taken against
Wilson, because of the fact that he has
involved one Of the highest ecclesiasts
in his SHINING.
With respect to the official attitude
of the church toward these new
poiygamous marriages, there IS this to
say: The policy of Joseph f. Srith
Is that although a man be accused the
church VII take M rotice % the ne
cusation, except there be conviction
in the law courts. Inasmuch as he and
the others of the church chiefs hold
and withhold the evidence necessary
to conviction, It is easy to discern that
the church (undcr the Smith evasive-
messy can find excuse for taking no ac
ton. 1t is at the same time given
out that any man who contracts new
polygamous marriage does so on his
own responsibility, and must take his
own chances as against the law-di
rectly IN agreement with the personal
lttitude Of the president of the church,
There is double purpose in this, the