The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-05-06
NO EAGLE SCREAM COMING,

We find the following little editorial
note in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, on
the matter of an alleged Western di-
vorce:
An English Judge speaks OF a $50
called divorce" obtained in Idaho Can't
the eagle scream bit7
The reply to this must be, No; the
eagle can't scream about anything of
this kind, for since Congress has no
jurisdiction over the question of mar
riage and divorce, and since Idaho has
no foreign relations and can come in
connection with England only through
the National Government which has no
jurisdiction over the question, there is
no chance for a scream.
Tho anti'polygamy constitutional
amendment which is pending, and that
would give Congress jurisdiction over
this question if ratified, appears to be
quietly sleeping in the pigeon holes.
The adoption of that amendment would
cure good many evils, aside, alto
gether, from the question of polygamy
to which it is supposed especially to
apply. 1t would, of course, make polyg.
amy subject of National legislation
and a violation Of the anti-polygamy
law, subject to prosecution in the Fed.
eral courts. But it would do a good
deal more. First Of all, 1t would make
the marriage and divorce laws uniform
throughout the United States; and we
would not have the inconsistent and
Illuminating jangle that we now have in
the matter of divorces and the non.
recognition of DEGREES of divorce az
between the courts of the different
States and as noted in the extract
quoted as between the courts of this
country and courts of foreign nations.
And then, it would give the Nation
power to protect the interests of Amer
lean heiresses who have in some cases
unwisely married abroad, and have had
their fortunes sQuandered and the in
terests of themselves and their children
leopardized by the unfair laws of for
elgn countries in regard to partitions
of estates and the rights of wives and
of heirs. 1t often happens in such cases
that the property involved is in the
United States, but the United States
has no power to protect or see Justice
done, because Congress now has no
jurisdiction whatever over questions of
marriage, divorce, or the rights of di-
vorced persons.
All these things could be straightened
out effectually and properly with the
adoption of the constitutional amend.
ment spoken Of, giving Congress juris-
diction over the question of marriage
and divorce. We have urged this view
very often, but it is usually lost sight
of in the persiflage commonly pertain
ing to what is known as the Mormon
question and the polygamy introduced
here under the so-called plural wife
revelation. That, however, is really
very small portion of the general ques-
tion involved. and as the President of
the Mormon church has openly de.
clared, that he and his church are not
In any way opposed to the adoption of
the anti'polygamy amendment, the
Mormon question might fairly be eIimi. |
mated from this whole subject, and the |
proposed adoption Of the anti -polygamy
constitutional amendment be put square.
ly upon it's merits rs a National ques-
tion. That is where it belongs, and |
that is where The Tribune has for a |
good while urged that it be placed |
We trust that the country will wake |
mp on this question, and see that there |
is a great deal more to it than Mormon |
polygamy; and, in fact, that Mormon
poIYgamy, even at its worst. was but
small fraction of the general question
involved,