The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-01-25
THE UTAH CONTEST.

Under the above head the New
York Times editoriAlly discusses the
Murray outrage, and in way that
must be cutting to the feelings of the
Governor and his friends. The Times
is the acknowledged head OF republi-
can newspapers, having long ago
wrested that distinction from the
New York Tribune. 1t is by no means
g Mormon sympathizsr. Indeed, it
ia one of the most vigorous opponents
to polygamy to be found in the Amer
lean press. But it cannot sanction
the Murray mode of fighting Nor
monism, because that mode is unlaw-
full, cowsrdly and unrepublican. Be-
cause of the prominence and infu-
ence of the Times. we reproduce its
long editorial in full:
There is naturally much excitement in
Utah over the political complications |
which have come our OF Gov. Murray's |
action In giving certificate OF election |
10 Campbell, the nom Mormon candidate |
for Congress, rather than to Cannon, the
Mormon candidate. On the other hand,
the "Gentiles" are jubilsnt, feeling as if,
to use their own expression, they have
SCOT the Mormon bull by the horns"
On the other hand, the Mormons are ir-
ritsted and indignant at what they con-
slider al act of usurpstiOn by the Cover
nor. As Gov. Murray was sent TO Utah
as "Gentile stalwsrt," his action In the
premises could not hsYe been underta ken
without consultation with the leaders of ,
the Anti-Mormon party, IN and out of
Utah, At the late election for delegate
TO Congress, George Q. Cannon, the
Mormon candidate, received is, 56S votes, :
and Allen @. Campbell, snli-Mormon, :
1857 votes. Campbell pro- 3
tested against the Governors certificate
being issued on these grounds: That the
Governor has power to 60 behind the re-
turns before issuing the certificate; that
there is no evidence to disprOve his owA {
or the disqualification Of Z
those who voted for him; that there is :
evidence to prove the disqualification of
Cannon and of some of those who voted
for him; that Cannon is an unnaturalized 8
waited by his being q pOlygamist, and
that many of the persons who voted for
him were women, illegally given the
right Of suffrage By the territorial legisla-
ture.
1t will be seen, then, that the arRu- 8
ment of Mr.. Campbell rests chiefly upon
two propositions: First, that the func-
tons OF the Governor sre not purely Ii
ministerial IN the matter of issuing q
certificate Of election; and second, that
In vitialion of the ballots cast for q can y
didste who received the highest number d
Of votes elects the candidate who re- n
ceived the next highest vote. But, as q
some Of the incidental parts of the con- il
plea comprises poists raised in o.
the struggle which Is constantly going on
in Utah, these are Interesting. The act
Of the territorial legislature giving the e
right of suffrage to women has been con- IL
iidered by the nOn-MOrmon population e.
IF the territory as an expedient to fertify %
IN their present position the Mormon T
nsjority. Campbell urges, in his pro- In
est, that this act is void "because it at
.empts to c-nIsr the privilege by a
special act, and on easier terms of quail
icstion than those required by existing re
general laws applicable to the other sex. o
thus violating the rule Of uniformity" ut
But Congress, which has the right to m
annul any ststute of any ter itorial legis-
ature, has not exercised It's revisory fuDc- =,
ion in tkis particular case. And it must 81
appear that Campbel's position is IN
.enable when he assumes that the To
women's vote included in the 1865 cast 81
or Cannon was illegal and void. But, m
assuming that the Mormon female vote is r,
legal, how does Mr.. Campbell propose
0 prove that it was al cast for Cannon? l.
There is no system of registry in Utah by
7hich it can be sscertsined for whom any sd
ngle PERSONS ballot was cast. 1t may
9 assumed thst the women voted for a
auuOn, but this Is mere assumption.
Another phase of the woman suffrage
uestion In this case Is found in the plea
lat there we're more women who voted ~
" Cannon than there were men. That ..
to say. assuming that the votes Of all los
lie Mormon women were illegal, and tut
lat they were all cast for Cannon, the on
eduction OF these illegal votes from the Ut
,tsl OF those cast for Cannon would COS
ave him with fewer legal votes than dir
ampbell. When we consider that Can -,
on had 1865 votes, and Campb Il had So'
lly 1857, this proposition seems a bold oe
ne Furthermore, rs there is nothing in In
10 returns Of the local csnva-sers to FIe
-ove that there were more wumen's
Jtes cast for Cannon than there are
gal votes IN the whole territory, il is not
.sy to see what possible bearing this as
rtion can have on the case. If there bal
ould be contest in ths House of Rep ia,
sentativeB, Mr.. Campbell's assertion n
ould not be Of the least avail unless &C. We
by evidence. tue
But, after all, Governor Murray era
right in Issuing the certificate put
Campbell, rather than to Cannon, raj
he has power to 20 behind ~.
e returns, and II the vitiation of the o.
ties cast for the highest candidate 0oi
scts the candidate next below him.
le Governor may grant q certificate on
idence which may be subsequently, T
rown out by the House of Representa- l
ss. In this instance, however. it is que
hcult to see where tbs Governor Of ger
ali finds his authority TO issue cer.i- cas-
ate 10 8 minority candidate, even ad- ysrl
sting the irregularity of the poll of the fair
Il cast for Cannon. There IS nothing 80
ateyer in the returns from the can -
;sers to show any fatal defect or irregu- Pun
ity. And if there were, the law under Ians
ich the Governor acts simply says that OF y
and the secretary 'shall unseal snd
anime the returns, and furnish TO each
son having the highest number of
es for any territorial Office certificate n
election There is nothing here 10 n;oL
rant the Governor in admitting ex- He
sic evidence going TO show the dis iliD
LITIGATION or ineligibility OF the candi- gave
e shaving the highest number Of well