Sacramento daily record-union., 1882-05-03
THE GEN,rILEs.
THE FIRST APosrAFE-DgPYINe THE
CHURCH AUTHORITIES
Godbs-Lawrencs g. Kimball-The Walker
Brothers-The Tribune" and Its
Troubles-A Divided House
Correspondence Of the RECORD. .Uslos.l
SALT LAKE CRY, April 25, 1882

Correspondence Of the REooRp.UNIoN.l
SALT LAKE CRY, April 25, 1882.
Having in previous letters given some
thing of the inside workings of polygamy
and the Mormons, few words regarding
the Gentle element Of Salt Lake may also
prove interesting. There are about four
thousand Gentiles in the city, including
apostates.
THE FIRST APosTATE
Was VIM. Godbe, who apostatized in 1869
Then Henry Lawrence, with his partner,
Kimball. The two were publishing a news
paper, and Lawrence wrote an article advo.
eating the mining interests, and dilating
upon the great mineral resources of Utah,
Brigham Young sent for the publish.
ers of the paper and pointed out
the error of advertising Utah as
mineral-bsaring region, holding that
mining excitement would bring rush OF
outsiders to the Territory. which would
result in the Mormon Church losing con-
troll. A wordy argument followed, when
Brigham, in his wrath, threatened, with a
terrible oath, to cut the journalists off
from the Church. The reply was, " Cut
and be hanged !" and at the next meeting
of the High Council they were formally
cut off. From that time the paper contin-
ued to advocate mining, but did not in
dulge in any special crusade against the
Church. The paper was also "cut off, SO
to speak, and Sunday after Sunday Brigham
denounced "the vile sheet in the taber-
nacle. As these men were persons of high
standing and wealth, their expulsion cre-
ated considerable excitement. They were
persecuted to such an extent by tho Nor.
mons that they finally began to fight back,
and the firm spent 500, 900 in the unequal
battle. Mr.. Lawrence is now one Of the
most respected business men in Salt Lake,
man of culture and education. and one
who was universally recommended as fit
person TO serve on the Commission, should
Utah appointments be made.
THE WALLER BROS.
Comprise the wealthiest firm in Utah, and
are estimated to be able to command FIVE
millions. They came to the country with
the Mormons, and made their first strike
selling bacon to the Government troops,
when bacon was scarce and high. When
they became wealthy they left the Church,
ten per cent. on their income amounting
to a heavy and by no means desirable tax.
The residences of the four brothers occupy
an entire block. the elegant grounds and
buildings being one OF the features
of the city. They are entsrprising, charit-
able men, and known as live patrons of the
Salt Lake artists. They are also building
an opera house which, when complete, will
be one of the best designed places of
amusement in America. In addition to
this the decorations are of rare beauty and
will almost equal Baldwin's Theater in
San Francisco.
THE "TR1BUNE" OFFICE
Is sort of headquarters for the leaders of
the Gentle faction. The paper was
an experiment twelve years ago, and
had terrible struggle against Brig
ham and his crowd. The editors and
proprietors would have been assassinated
but from the fact that Brigham was shrewd
enough to realize that it would have bad
effect and react on the church. A. N.
Hamilton, the man who founded the Tri.
bune, began an aggressive fight from the
first right in the enemys camp. The Nor
mons threatened to burn the Office and kill
the editors. They did not confne them
selves to threats either. One night Lock
ley, the editor, was assaulted and beaten
terribly just as hewas leaving the Office. He
finally got his pistol out, and his assailants
fed. A few weeks later Mr.. Hamilton,
while going home at night, was suddenly
confronted by three men, who sprang out
of an alley. To have pulled weapon
would have necessitated the unbottoning
of his coat, and having no time to lose, he
pointed his finger in the darkness in the
face of the largest of the trio, remarking,
roughly, Through up your hands, you
d. scoundrel." They supposed his out
stretched index finger was weapon,
and fed precipitously. The paper
was not to be stopped by threats
or attacks, and began to call things by
their common names. 1t openly denounced
the wives of Brigham as concubines, and
called his household his harem. 1t exposed
particularly the trickeries, shams and
thieveries of the priesthood, and put
some old saint or apostle in the
pilory every morning. 1t had hard row
to hoe from the fact that many Gentiles did
not dare support it for fear of incurring the
DIsPLEAsURE OF THE CHURCH.
Only three years ago the Office was under
arms for week. 1t managed to live, how.
ever, and to-day is one of the best paying
newspaper properties in the West. Its
policy has always been to make gulf be.
tween the tithe- payers and the tithe- eaters,
and its influence among the masses Of Nor
mon people is beginning to be felt, for in it
they realize that they have friend. But
for the presence of live, independent
journal in Utah the Mormons would have
fattened and fostered for years to come,
unmolested by any interference of Uncle
Sam.
! DIVIDED HOUSE.
One great drawback to Gentle success in
Utah is the existence of bitter spirit of
rivalry and what might be called cliqueism
if the non Websterian expression may be
allowed-among people who should
be the most united in America