The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-01-20
THE MORMON PROBLEM.
Various Views Concerning the Situation In

NAfiOus NleWs SohttFhfuS inc situattou IA
Utah.
NEW YORK, January 1.-THE Graphic,
Washington correspondent says that the son
II the late Orson Pratt, one Of the original
Mormon Apostles, is in the city. He Is All
ardent an:i-Mormon. To-day he said:
We have been waiting twenty years, hop.
ing that each succeeding Congress would do
something for Utah, but 1t has never been
done. and when the Poland bill was passed
we hoped something from it, but the vital
parts were taken from it, so that 1t really
amounted to nothing. You ask me how II
happens that am not a Mormon. I'll tell
you. am the son of my fathers first wife,
ana had mother who taught me the evils
ofihe system. There are many such persons
in Utah, and the tendency Of their education
is opposed to Mormonism. They grow up
hostile to the institution, and more than hall
appear to be disguised with all forms of re-
ligion. Some of the older and more fanat-
ical Mormons have an idea that the Govern
ment can not deal with them. They think
that they are more powerful than the United
States. OF course this is not true of the
more intelligent class, such as Cannon, for
example. They know better.
THE FIGHT AGAINST PoLYGAMY.
Continuing. Pratt said: What we want is
blow struck at polygamy. We want it
wiped out. don't care straw for the sim
pie unseating Of Cannon OH q technicality.
II nothing is to be done to put down polyg-
gress as Campbell, and perhaps rather. 1t is
not Cannon We are fighting, but polygamy.
Pratt was asked what would be the result
In Utah Of the unseatin2 of Cannon, pro
vided the committee on elections reported
against him. He replied: The case. in that
event, would, suppose, be referred back to
the people, and the Mormons would elect an
other man. The vote In this case shows
about the proportion of Mormons and Gen.
/ tiles. IL is over ten to one in favor Of the
Mormon population, and Of course they can
always carry an election as long as they have
the right to vote.
TALK WITH GOVERNOR MURRAY.
Governor Muria az, of Utah, said to-day: |
am not In favor Of dividing the Territory Of
Utah, as they have proposed, and attaching
portion Of 1t to Colorado aud Nevada.
This would accomplish no good. 1t would
simply insure Nevada to the Democrats aud
turn Colorado into Democratic State. The
Mormons are Democrats. l am In favor of
abolishing the present form of Territorial
Government and administering the affairs Of
the Territory by Council appointed by the
President. What we are striving for is an
agitation Of the subject and to arouse Con-
gress to action. We want Cannon dethroned
for the moral effect 1t will have Oh the po-
lygamists.
VIEWS OF CONGRESSMAN REED.
Congressman Reed, of Maine, remarked
tn day that the great difficulty I'm the way Of
effective legislation against polygamy was,
In his opinion, that under the present system
the enforcement of the law depended upon
the local sentiment Of the community to
which ii applies. Congress might enact stat
utes, but II the weight Of public sentiment
were against them, they would he inopera-
tive. This was the case I'm the South. and il
had become apparent that 1t was useless to
attempt to force law upon a community
whose weight of public opinion was hostile
to IT, that the position had to be practically
abandoned. This was the trouble In Utah.
BURROWS ANTI MORMON BILL
The Evening Posts Washington special
says: Burrows (Rep.) OF Michigan intends
to-day TO take the Democrats at their word
in their adherence of polygamy, and will
introduce bill providing that bigamy or
polygamy shall he disqualification for any
Delegate from any Territory. He will ask
to have his bill passed by unanimous con-
sent. The opponents of Mormonism will
undoubtedly adopt some such scheme as this,
and will have their bill become law before
10 the hope of striking successful blow at
Mormonism i'm this way.
ALATE AWAKENING.
New YORK, January 12.-The Tribune
says: The eagerness Of certain members of
the House to offer bills against polygamy and
press them to an immediate vote would be
more TO their credit If they had manifested
like zeal In former Congresses, when their
previous indifference to the presence of
polygamous Delegate In their midst and to
the fourishing condition of Mormonsm are
remembered. Their present activity savors
somewhat Of demagoguism. There is, for
tunately, strong reason for hoping that the
Mormon question will be vigorously dealt
with before the next recess, but whatever
measures are adopted should be the result of
regular committee work and thorough consid-
Grafton in both houses, and not of the hasty
work Of individual members to make them
selves conspicuous. .
THE EASIEST WAY OUT.
WASHINGTON, January 1.-THE indica-
tions ar. that the House committee on cleo
tions will send the Utah case back to the
people of that Territory for another election.
There Is strong pressure from the churches
In behalf Of Campbell, which the committee
do not very well know how to resist. They
don't like to give the seat to Campbell, in the
face of the large majority Of votes cast for
Cannon, and they will probably conclude to
hold the election over again as the easiest
way to dispose of the case.
Gamblers Acquitted by q Packed Jury.
CHICAGO, January 12.-The trial Of the
Hankins Bros. before Justice Mech yes
terdsy, for keeping gambling house, result
ed In verdict Of sequittal. 1t required the
jury two minutes to agree on verdict and
fifteen minutes To sign their names TO it. As
the verdict was announced the Hawkins
hove smilad knaufnuIy The presscutiug