The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-15
.POLyGAMY AZURE
OF DIVORCE EVIL
Give Men More Wives and
Trouble Will Be
Eradicatcd.

Especial to The Times ID ispatchI
4 New York. January 1i.--"Polygamy
Is tho most feasible OF all tho panaccas
that have been put forward for tho
cure OF the divorce evil.
II favor polyGamy for those who
want 81.
"Polygamy would DO boon to the
tans of thousands OF spinsters In this
country who at present lead a Ito
that lis incomplete without the mascu-
line companionship which they crave
and to which they hro entitled.
"Polysamy is opeuly practlced In
Utah and La becoming less and less
opposed as the Gcntilo minority OF the
population OF Utah witnesses Its MANI
fold benents."
IT 10 not an eidor In the Mormon
Church who Is speaking: nor the shade
OF Brigham Young. or even one Of the
forty-thrce children of Joseph Smith.
Mrs. Mortimer Mcnken, wife OF "a
prominent metropolitan attorney. is tho
one woman In a city full Of sunragcttes
and modern women" who darcs to
raise her voice in defense OF the plural
marriage system. Mrs Menkcn who Is
a member of the Equal Franchise So
cicty. the Political Study Society and
the Post Parlioment, attended the mock
meeting of the women governors OF
the latter organization at tho Waldorf
astoria on Friday. Each Of the NO.
men present represented a State-Mrs
Menkcn was tho governor OF Utah.
ana she threw tho audience into n panic
when she boldly declared herself in
favor OF return to the practice or
polygamy.
Io-day Mrs. Mcnken received re-
porter In her home In Weyt End Ave-
nue. She laughed heartily when asked
II she favored the adoption OF pol,--
saniy for all women.
that" she replied The s,,bteci 10 n
hard ono to discuss sensibIy. People
are 80 liable to lose their heads In
condernnins polygamy ana the sect
mat practices 1t. Now, did not saw
! should advise all men To get them
selves n half dozen wives or women
TO band themselves into cr,bs Of a
ao1ch or more members and marry
some man.
But from my first hand observations
III Utah. l believe that polygamy makes
Tor morality. You should travel in
Othh and you would observe that polv
Samy Is becoming more ard more open-
~ practiced 1t Is even spreading into
the surrounding States, idaho In par
ucniar. And the Gcntiles In Utah, who
comprise onc-thrd OF The total popu-
iation arc nowhere near as bitterly
opposed TO the plural marriage system
rs they were formerly.
The people arc beginning to realize
me many benefits TO be derived from
folygamy. Poiygamy, for instance,
settles the labor question. In Utah
you see the husband and his four or
SIX or eight wives as the case may be.
ulling the soil In perfect harmony.
All take personal interest in the farm
and tho result is that the family Is
Independent
You ask me II the women are not
jealous OF ono another: II tho husband
docs not play favoritcs. II may be In
some cases. But / have not observed
IL in Utah. They look upon the sys-
TEN of plural marriages as part OF
their religion. and they respect their
wives as we'll as their common hus-
band.
las for another pressing problem OF
the day. there Is no divorce or prac-
t!caily none in Utah It's all a matter
OF common sense. wife could hardly
accuse her co-wifo OF being core
spondcnt. could she? Thus polygamy
practically eradicates the divorce evil. |
In Utah have found that polygamoms
respectful and self.respecting men in
,hc world. Their manner of living
tends to make them So Their every
Interest Is wrapped UP in their fam |
ily. They have nothing hut the fam
ny and the church to think about. The |
1enets OF their church, which to them
Is dcarcr than life Itself tell them to |
live In am!ty and peace with their |
wives. and they follow the mandate of |
the church to the letter.
There is another aspect OF the |
L.