Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-07-13
The Mormon ouestioD.

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The growth of the Mormon power in the
West does not attract so much attention now
as it will hereafter, but here and there thought.
full persons can be found who look with many
misgivings upon the continual extension of the
system that has its root in Salt Lake City. A
well-known editor of Laramie declares that
the Mormons already hold the balance of
power in Wyoming territory, and are spread
ing SO rapidly over the North western states
and territories that before long that entire
section will be practically under their control -
1t Is well known that in the last legislature of
Idaho half of the members in each house
were Mormons. In Colorado they have q
large and thriving settlement and the leaders
of the church have recently made arrange
ments for the purchase of land in that state
for the use of their immigrant converts. They
have a firm foothold in the southern terrific
ries. Thousands of converts have passed
through this city on their way to the West in
the last few months. Mormon missionaries
are laboring successfully in the South as well
az in Europe, and Brigham Young expects to
draw from the Old and the New World 30, 600
deluded victims before the first of next Janu.
airy.
As for the Edmunds law, which was regard
ed as measure that promised to be very Of.
fectve, it is spoken of by Western men as a
failure, because, it is said, it can be and is
successfully evaded. So secure do the Nor.
mons feel in their stronghold that they have
already sued for damages the United States
Commissioners who were appointed to en-
force this law, and the suits are brought to
the United States district court On Aug. 6
there will be q general election in Utah, at
which members of the legislature, probate
judges, sherifTs, and other local officers will
be chosen. The chairman of the Edmunds
commission is confdant that the new legsla-
ture will be elected by monogamists, owing to
the enforcement of the provisions of the Ed
munds law concerning registration. The
Gentlles of Utah declared a few months ago
that 10000 persons would be disfranchised,
but also asserted that those not DISTINGUISHED
were and would continue to be completely un.
der the control of the avowed polygamists
and of the church. They added that the Ed
munds law had served only as "a gentle irri-
tant. had consolidated the people, strength
ened the power of the priests over their fol
lowers, and failed to diminish the number of
polygamous marriages. They urged congress
to take all political power from the Mormon
people, and provide for territorial legislation
by establishing legislative council, the men,
bers of which should be appointed by the
president.
These statements and this appeal indicate
the feeling of the non-Mormon population.
IL Is possible, however, that the legislature to
be elected next month will disappoint those
who predict that it will be completely under
Mormon influence. None of its members can
be avowed polygamists under the law as con-
strued by the chairman of the commission,
and it remains to be seen whether these legis-
lators will enact laws which shall be in har-
mony with the Edmunds law. Those who
impatiently assert that the Mormons cannot
be controlled by that law or any other law of
Congress may have good reasons for such an
opinion, but the country will await the action
of the new legislature. The course taken by
that body will show whether or not the new
arrangements for registration and franchise
have had a good effect.