Show htz I gi i MORMON WOMEN I1j Probably no American woman ever enL en-L gngoil publicly in a moro degrading occupation 61 I occupa-tion than that of lobbying in Congress for l J tt rat8ngcj f f rc rat lt tho defeat of measures calculated to cup c-up polygamy in Utah Two or three Mormon 1 k Mor-mon women arc now in Washington on this I c errand Their mission and tho zeal with L which they present their case provo that any 10 law which overlooks the women of that territory q ii ter-ritory must necessarily fall short They nro t F i us bad as tho men They nro not tho tear 4 fut sufferers nnd helpless victims which tho 4 i sentimentalists would liavo ns believe L They mire fanatical supporters of tho odious 0 system plural marriage and they rejoice I in their own degradation lime presence of i those shameless lobbyists at tho capital should have tho effect of opening tho eyes Id of Congressmen to this fact When It shall 1 ° bo possible to put a polygamous omun in m tho penitentiary ns well ns n polygamous u 4 V man the Federal Government will have l more respect In Utah than it now enjoys I i flue above Is from the Chicago Jferald 1u and is In tho main correct as an abstract I j principle although practically it is doubtful I l ° 1 doubt-ful whether the necessity exists for including i t in-cluding polygamom women in the penalty I provision of that portion of the criminal i i i law Neither would l it scarcely ho consistent t8l1 con-sistent with time nplrit of justice which Is 1 over lenient to tho victim even although uI It participator in the crime instigated and c principaled by tho victimlzcr That tho Wtla female lobbyists at Washington do not I f u represent tho heartfelt sentiments of a majority of the Mormon women of Utah oven those living in polygamy there is 8 no question and it would bo unjust that tho latter unfortunates should be made to Buffer for tho shamelessness and iniquity of their more hardened l rs Blbters It Is seldom that u Mormon woman seeks to enter Into tho polygamous 1 ta polyg-amous Plate She is sometimes Bought f and prevailed upon by appeals to her v feminine weaknesses but oftuncrto her j it religious fanaticism which induces her to I s sacrifice her hfeH happiness in this for uu tho crown of glories she is taught to bo I l hove awaitB her in tho world to cOllie ty 1 Tho man IB I the betrayer and she the betrayed I be-trayed and ho should bo made to wilier sj tho penalties for both Tho present 1 maximum punishment l in SO inadequate I to the crhna and its Mipprossion I that it may almost bo designated a fane LSI months in the jxsnllontlary with good 1 j living and nothing to do has u but littlo terror for the aer hh t 4t 1L age polygomlst or unlawful colmbltor lie puts in his time agreeably kicking football pitching quoits playing checkers check-ers cards and other games eating drinking sleeping and receiving his friends and at the expiration of his term ho Is escorted homo by his polygamous sympathizers lionized and not tlnfre qucntly has bestowed upon him a lucrative lucra-tive office as a reward for his martyrdom martyr-dom Instead of Including women In the provisions i of tho law tho penalty for the men should bo at least quadrupled and confinement In tho Territorial prison mado what the law designs for convicted offenders punishment lime prospect of n couple of years hard labor instead of six monts feasting and recreation recrea-tion would Inspire wholesome respect for the law from thoso who now regard it with Indifference or contempt and violate It with ns much Impunity as they would n Gcntlln ordinance forbidding the use of tobacco or beer Let the omen alone BO far ns tho legal penalties mum concerned i Their unnatural marital relations Inflict more than sufllcicnl punishment upon them Let the betrayers bear tho brunt of the law ns tho victims bear the heart I burden imposed by Its violation |