The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-04-20

class postmistress, whose earnings "A
year we're about S25, and who was an
old woman, had been plurally married
some 80 years previously, but had
long ceased living with her husband.
Not only was II found that there was
no basis for the accusation as regards
! the government officials, but Incl.
dentally IL developed that the inves-
| tigators were unable to find single
case of polygamous marriage entered
into since the practice had been pro-
fessedly abandoned. | can not, OF
course, on this point speak generally;
there may or may not be foundations
for the charge OF which knew moth
but can speak positively as to this
investigation made by thoroughly com
petent and upright government Off
Gals in Wyoming, Idaho and Utah
My memory Is that on another occas-
ion. either in Arizona or New Mexico,
or both, our attention was called to
cases where there had been polygam-
GUS marriages, and that the offenders
were promptly prosecuted No man
ever suggested to me not to prose-
cute any offender in such case: and
| may add that every Mormon" with
whom | spoke assured me that since
the public Pronunciation of polygamy,
the law had been observed in this
respect, just as in others, and no one
of them ever so much as limited TO me
any desire to plead on behalf of any
possible offender of the type. | am,
of course. speaking of marriages en-
tered into since the Church pronun.
ciamento in question. II 1t were ever
shown to be true that such marriages
have been entered into, | should even
more strenuously than hitherto urge
giving the federal government power
to deal effectively with polygamy.
AS for the case of Senator Smoot
himself, he came to me of his own
accord, and not only assured me that
he was not polygamist, but, | may
add, assured me that he had never
had any relations with any woman
excepting his own wife; and | may
also add that it was the universal tes-
t,mony of all who knew anything of
10 L., 20 . oil
in every way. He also assured me
that he had always done everything
he could to have the law about polyg-
amy absolutely obeyed, and most
upheld the position that the !
church had taken in it's public renun.
citation of polygamy. and that he
would act as quickly against any
Mormon" who nowadays made al
plural marriage as against Gentle
who committed bigamy. | loo ked into
the facts very thoroughly, became
convinced that Senator Smooth had
told me the truth. and treated him
exactly as | did all other senator's
that is. strictly on his merits as a
public servant | did not interfere In
any way as to his retention in the
senate, save that where senators came
up to speak to me on the subject, !
81 he to them freely along the ile-
| have here outlined, taking the view
which ! believe is the only view thai
an American can consistently take,
namely, chat IL Mr.. Smoot or any one
else had disobeyed the law he should,
of course, be turned out, but II he had
obeyed the law and was an upright
and reputable man in his public and
private relations it would be an out
rage to turn him out because OF his
religious belief
| have thus gone over point by point
the infamous accusations made by the
writer. whoever he was, whom your
quoted accusations which brand with
infamy the man who made them and
uioo tuS hidBdHlut tulIOT WHO pUDilSn-
ed them. and any one who quotes
them. There is a peculiar infamy in
this species of SANDER. and the men
engaged in it do not stand one whit
above any men who have really taken
part in the practices which they at.
feet to denounce.
SO much for these ISLANDERS Now n
word to the Mormon" people them.
selves. II the accusations made against
the "Mormons" are as false as the &C
cusations upon which | have touched
above. there is no need of my saying
anything. But let me most earnestly
insist on the vital need. If there is
the slightest truth in any of these
accusations, of the Mormon" people
themselves acting with prompt thor,
oughness in the matter Any effort
| nnanly ne. 10 IND