Life, 1911-02-02 · page 20 of 52
Life — February 2, 1911 — page 20: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This article satirizes the resurgence of polygamy among Mormon (Latter-day Saint) leadership in Utah. The text explains that after the U.S. government pressured the Mormon church to abandon polygamy in the late 1800s, they formally renounced it, allowing Utah statehood. However, the new Mormon president (apparently a nephew of founder Joseph Smith) has allegedly returned to practicing plural marriage. The satire's barb: Utah recently became a woman-suffrage state—one of only four in the Union—yet remains controlled by a church embracing polygamy. The author argues federal intervention may be necessary and sarcastically suggests adding a Constitutional amendment to prevent it. The accompanying illustrations (a woman in winter, a man removing his hat respectfully) appear to depict scenes from Mormon life, though their specific narrative is unclear from the OCR'd caption.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
256 Mormons Polygamating Again UR long time guardian, the Hon, Sam. McClure, faith- ful to his seasoned purpose not to let anything happen to us without our knowing it, warns us by the hand of Burton J. Hendrick in his monthly magazine, that the Mormons have broken out again and are polygamating and resuming other bad old habits. It will be recalled that late in the last century—twenty or twenty-five years ago—our government did missionary work among the Mormons, reluctantly, but with such energy and perseverance, that the Mormon church formally aban- doned its doctrine of the pious expediency of plural wives. and the members actually gave up marrying so much, giving such evidence of change of heart and practice as to convince most observers—including their gentile neighbors in Utah— church had turned over a new leaf, and was going to be On the strength of these impressive reformatory sym Congress finally let Utah become a state, which meant that PA wee R ER &..¥: B it gave the Mormons control of their own local affairs. Things went on pretty well for a time, the chief complaint being that some of the older husbands who had accumulated large numbers of wives had not put them away as securely and separately as they should have done. Of course, -all political power in Utah vested at once in Mormon hands. Then the church got a new and zealous president, Smith, a nephew of Jo. Smith, the original inventor of the Mormon error, himself a profound believer in all his uncle’s delusions | and inventions and very carnest for the restoration of Morman doctrine and practice to all its original impuri| Now the testimony is, as borne (as aforesaid) in McClure’s, and also in AS SHE PASSED BY HE REMOVED IIIS MAT AND STOOD Wri: MIS BARE HEAD IN THE SNOW Guardian Ridgeway’s 15-cent Every body’s, by guardians Cannon and O'Hi gins, that the present leaders of th Mormon church have returned to poly my, and the Mormon tide nowadays i setting that way. It is too bad; and Utah a woman-su/ frage State, too; one of the four in th Union! It will be a pity to set the polic: on to the Mormons again, and an awk ward matter, too, because Utah is no: a sovercign State. It may first be nec essary to add to the Constitution Artic! XVI, to read: exist within, the United ‘Siatde or any. pace subject to their jurisdiction. 2. Congress shall have power to enfor: this article by appropriate legislation. Our Mormon brethren and ballot-casting sisters had better look after this matter themselves. Statehood won't protect polygamy if it extends and becomes conspicuous. It is as sure as taxes that if polygamy is countenanced by the church ridden Mormon government of Utah and begins to spread, th federal power will come in and stop it. There may be delay but there is no question about the final action. Meanwhile, why not get to work and add Article XVI, as above, to the Constitution, just as a hint and a starter! E. S. M. A One-Cylinder Car Climbing a Hill IthinkIcanIthinkIcan! I-think-I-can-I-think-I-can! I—think—I—can—I—think—I can! 1—think Ian —I —think —I 1——zuess guess T guess. CAN'T! an't— Iguess— I can't! I KNOW I comicbooks.com