The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-03-19
THE M0nmos CANNON
The 6rsaf s~AsSthbSts in ths Haads
Of the Leader 6aaaeF

from Washington. Mr.. Cannon has
long been a conspicuous figure in this
country for the reason that he is one of
the leaders Of the mormons and because
he has been the only polygamist who
has sat in congress.
Since the November election Mr..
Cannon has been brought out more
prominently by reason of Gov. Murray
giving a certificate of election to Alex.
G. Campbell, the latter receiving a lit
tie oyer 1000 votes. Gov. Murray
justiies his action on the ground that
Cannon is an alien and therefore ineligi-
BILE. Campbell has his certificate and
is in Washington and awaiting the
converting of an extra session.
The LEADER inquisitor has had Mr..
Campbell on the rack several times,
and our readers are therefore tolerably
familiar with his side of the story.
But desiring to get both sides of every
question, which is the true province of
a newspaper, the inquisitor aforesaid
jumped aboard the east bound train and
forthwith bored the mormon smooth
bore Cannon.
1t is not inapt to speak of MI. Can
o as a smoothbore. He is an elderly
gentleman of "a years of age and
wonderfully preserved for a man of his
years and wives. His hair, what is left
of it. is white; he wears a neck beard
which comes up to the lines of his face
all around. This is also white and gives
him a venerable appearance. His COM
plexion is Of a healthy hue, and, by the
way, his appetite is likewise healthy.
At the time of holding our convention,
he was industriously engaged in crawl
ing outside of a bag of doughnuts and
apples. Dressed in a suit of fine broad
cloth, with modest but valuable jewelry,
Mr.. Cannon looked like a retired mil
l~ionaire. And there is no doubt that
he has plenty of money at his disposal.
The mormon saints are too crafty not to
know the value of money at Washing
ton, and Cannon is the almoner, so to
speak.
MI. Cannon received the writer very
c~ourteously. We never saw him be-
fore, but we talked to him f~amiliarly, all
the same, and if he had any feelings of
restraint he threw them off when he
learned that we merely wished to inter-
view him and not to strike him for five
dollars.
Without any sparring of words the
writer got down to business and learned
that Mr.. Cannon is perfectly confident
of regaining his seat. He says the un-
animous opinion of the lawyers and rep
resentatives at Washington is that
Gov. Murray's action is clearly illegal,
and the house will declare it to be so by
promptly unseating MI. Campbell, who
has a prima facia right, and seating
Mr.. Cannon.
'But it has been said that the next
house, being republican, will be dis
posed to postpone the determination of
the contest until too late in the session
to give you a seat"
"My dear sir, the fact of the house
being republican is in my favor. Re-
publicans abhor the principle which
gives a certificate to Mr.. Campbell.
But then if the democrats were in ma
jority l should get justice because
Campbell can't be bolstered up legally.
And besides 1 have too many friends
in the house to suffer from intentional
delays"
"You are aware" said the inquisi-
tor, that GOV. Murray called on Gen.
Garfield a few days before the inaugur-
alton"
Eyes sir, l am" quietly replied Mr..
C.
at has been said that Gen. Garfield
warmly commended Gov. Murray in
that interview, and endorsed his action
in your case."
Don't you believe it, sir; don't you
believe it," exclaimed Mr.. Cannon, with
warmth. 81 have it from good au-
thority that Gen. Garfield did not COM
mend such action. Besides, every man
knows Gen. Garfield is too fair a man
to endorse any such rascality. 1 have
known him for many years and 1 know
what n of man he is"
"Have you got your case in good
shape for a c~ontestp"
"Yes, sir; everything has been at
tended to, and the case will proceed in
the house. 1 am not concerned at all
about the matter. 1 rest easy, since L
know that time will vindicate my
rights. In a few weeks after the as
sembling of congress I shall sit in my
seat as usual.'
"Mr. Cannon, it has been said that
there was a conspiracy formed in Utah
to seat Mr.. Campbell; do you know
anything about it?"
"Well, 1 have no doubt that Mr..
Campbell was put up with the under
standing that they would see him
seated. They have carried out their
plans. But they cannot keep him there.
A higher power passes on that ques-
tion and that is where l come to the
front. Oh, 1 tell you 1 have been per-
secuted"
1.-THE matter has been extensively
discussed"
eyes; 1 have been given an immense
advertisement, haven't II"
"What is there in the statment that
Won are an alien Mr. CannonpD