The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-05-20
Anarsrnp roe rILroAr vorfNo.

unlawfuIly voting IA NJ onfana Tor Deiegate
| to Congress One hundred Mormons resid-
| ing in Utah and Idaho are said to have voted
| for the democratic candidate In Montana un-
der assurance of protection. Deputy Mar
shall Rumsey has thu. far made no arrests
The foregoing came over the wires this af-
terhoon. II Is probably part of plan TO up
| set the election for Delegate In Montana. 1t
| Is a most unlikely thing that any Nor
mons" whose residence Is In Utah or Idaho
would attempt to vote I'm Montana. II Is
contrary to all the teachings and rules Of
their own people and party. "Mind your
own business" has often been cited as the
Mormon" creed. We have no right to in
terfere with the politics Of our neighbors,
nor TO break the laws of the States and Ter
| ritories we may visit for business or pleasure.
This Is well understood by the Latter Day
Saints, and we shall be greatly surprised II
| this dispatch turns out to be anything but a
canard. However, If any mormon" has
foolshly gone from Utah or Idaho into Mon
tana aud voted unlawfully. he Is amenable
to the law aud should be punished accord
ingly. No one here will object, whether he
| Is Bishop or a layn,ar,, SO long as justice
prevails. The most will be made of this ru-
NOR that Is possible, but we believe 1t will
prove either telegraphic sensation or huge
cxaggeralion of some simple matter scarcely
The above is from the Dessert Ns,cs of
May 18th, and is entitled " Is IL a canard Pr
| The telegram never went from the Deer
Lodge Office, but the statement as to the in
| dictments Is correct. Owing TO the indict-
ments being found against persons at a dis
lance, and not wishing to throw any obstacle
| In the way Of the officers, the Ne,c North
| H'est has not hitherto referred TO this matter.
1t is in order now to give a resume of the
case. ..r
This Judicial District consists of Beaver
head, Silver Bow, Deer Lodge aud Missoula
counties. The United States Court terms Of
the district have been held at Deer Lodge.
The Utah and Northern was last year ex-
tended into Beaverhead county. A large
number of Mormons, residents OF Utah, UNI
der charge of Mormon Bishops, were engaged
In grading and constructing the road, and
numbers were engaged in operatingit. Some
until the November election in 1880, aud vo-
ted at Dillon, Shinebergers, Willow Greek,
Spring Hill and Browns Bridge. There
were 40S votes cast at Dillon, Of which it
was estimated by those who should know not
over 200 were legitimate. Many of the
Mormons voting went direct to the train and
left for Utah nearly all departed for Utah
within the next few days. 1t has been al
legged that a number, not satisfied with voting
once voted again at Spring Hill, but this Is
not the matter under consideration. Bishops
Merrill and Hendricks and great many Of
these men were known to be residents of
Utah and TO have one or more wives there.
Their votes were challenged at the polls at
Dillon and a record kept. Bishop Hendricks
was among those challenged at Dillon and
swore his vote in. Bishop Merrill voted at
Brown's Bridge. The laws Of Montana re-
quire as qualification to vote that the per-
son voting shall be a male citizen Of the Uni
ted States, or have declared his intention TO
become such, be above the age of 81 years,
and shall have resided In the Territory three
months and In the county where he offers to
vote, thirty days, next preceding the day Of
election. II was held that these men, with
their homes, regular places of abode, and
their families IN Utah, engaged In Beaver
head county only Temporarily, and then on
the eve Of departure, we're not residents Of
Montana as contemplated by the law. The
matter was reported TO the United States
District Attorney and his interposition solic-
tied. At the December term of Court, 1880,
witnesses were subpenaed from Dillon and
appeared To answer before the United States
Grand Jury, but as important papers and
witnesses did not arrive in time the matter
went over until the April term, 1881, when
District Attorney Dryden had his evidence
present and as stated above indictments were
found against ten Of the parties, including
two Bishops, for illegal voting In Beaverhead
county. za n.s- .-- q.
Warrants of arrest were made and Deputy
Marshals James r. Wallis, Of Deer Lodge,
and William Rumsey, Of Helana, left April
10th to make the arrests. They returned
some days since having arrested Bishop Mer-
rill at Franklin, John Jones, freighter,
whose home Is at Malad, Joseph Poole, con-
ductor ON the Utah and Northern, whose
home Ia st Ogden, and John w. Beers, also
of Ogden. Each Of them gave bail in $500
to answer 1t the September term of court,
1881. 1t Is probable that other arrests have
since been made, and the Marshals think only
two of the ten are out Of reach.
II is well this question should be deterin-
ined. Utah Is furnishing the railroad build
ep for all surrounding territories. Their
homes are In Utah. Their first allegiance Is
to the Mormon Church. They retain resi-
dence there and vote as their church rulers
direct. In the past few years they have
overrun into Idaho and defled the elections
Of that territory. They are attempting the
same thing here, and last year held the bal
ance Of power In Beaverhead county and used
II. In 1ss1-s2 they win be swarming In
other counties Of Montana through which
the Utah Northern or Northern Pacific is
being constructed. They will be able TO
control the local and perhaps the general
election in this territory, where they have no
interests, no sympathies, and no proper right
70. vote. The Deseret Netos, the Church or
gan at Salt Lake city, virtually takes this po-
sition, the only tenable one It can take. III
our present election law Is adequate to pro-
tect the territory against this invasion Of the
political rights Of our people, the parties ar
rested will have TO forfeit their bonds or the
Conrts will administer lesson that viii |
stand as warning against further violations |; |
u the law Is inadequate then an extra session |
Of the Legislature should be convened next |
winter TO enact . law that Is sufficient for |
The purpose. This Is The meaning Of the in
dictments In this judicial District and II
commands the support Of every well-wisher
of Montana
A CRISIS or THE PARTY.
The Washington news OF the past three