Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-11-02
THE PoLYGASrY QUESTION.
An interview With Cannon, the Mormon
Delegate to Congress.

70 congress.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 1.-George G. Can.
non, Delegate from Utah to Congress is
IN the city, and has been interviewed
upon the report of the Utah Commission
ers, published yesterday. To the re-
porter Mr.. Cannon said:
THE Edmunds law has had nracisei,, ,h.,
eueGt predicted: just the effect | told Sena
IoT Eumunds IL would have, but he thought
l was 700 mueh interested to give an unbiased
opinion IL has whooped our people up to
use common but expressive term. To illus
lrale' Ihere Is grandson of Brigham YOung
s,S ypSang man not over p years of age. He IS
ratber carao "rai not Dad, put ne has always been
fatheT careless with regard to religion His
Irlends have believed that his symnathies
were with the anti Mormon element. and
hSePIaPS thSa zap iiney were in measure. Wen, at
lhe last election he went up to the ballot hoy
ana putting IN his vote said: They have dis
Irancnlsed pap (his father but I'm nut in a
vote that VIII count for his sde.' You see he
has but one wife, never had anv more aud
they could not disfranchise him y '4'
mas the kdmunds law been very obnox
lous 70 the MormonsgN inquired the reDorter
non ig Una raw w atselI mas not, replied Mr.. Can
oppressive. It has been given construction
not warranted by the Constitution" N'-ON
I'm what way?"
1t has been made retroactive. Men ore
excluded from voting for acts alleged 10 have
Deeh committed many years prior to the en-
acJment of the Edmunds law For instapca
te ,il'es eS-May9r OF salt Lake City had once two
wives, wives, put Is now widower He has been
ulsIranchlsed. The present Mayor has
but one living Wife He had
another who lived but a short time
ntI ~ ~ eAcIuueu from voting, although he like
otheF men, committed the alleged ofense
many years before the law was enacted, Mrs.
Dt, Richardson, widow, was excluded from
aOtthg because her @ husband while living had
another wife. This construction of the law
making IL e1 post fdctO, has given rise to MANY
test suits, and am satisfied it will not stand
IN tne courts, but as said at the outset this
persecution has made our people more
united. lt has driven the youfg people
VINO were Indifferent, and MANY of them
iEdlherent as to the church and its teachings
TO take sides. 1t placed them in a nosifion
where they had to take sides with tbair o,,,,i
people or against them. and naturally they
cnose 10 stand with their parents and friends
Now AT the last election for Delegate our
candldate received as many votes as usual
While the opposition got only what it polled
when was elected to the Forty Con
gress' Inc votes of the young people, indig-
law against their parents and relations noade
up Tor all that we had lost by dsfranchise-
ment."
Then the law has not injured the Nor
monsF put IN the reporter.
NO" said Cannon, 'sexcept that il is nm
PHEASANT 10 stand persecution. But the Deo-
PIE OF Utah can stand a great deal of op-
preston. They are united industrio,is apd
frugal, and having endured much can endnre
much more. There are a good many people
IN Utah besides the MOrmons, and thev can
hot ENFORCE oppressive laws against the latter
Without plnchlng others some. Now the CLIQUE
VINO clamored for the Edmunds law are very
much dissatisfied with its operation. They
We're disappointed. Their scheme was to pet
entire control of the Territory, and having
ialled by TINS means they want to try another.
NOW they want legislative commission if
they can bring it about. Failing in that they
VIII perhaps perpetuate the existing
commission. 1t. is to continue untfl
The Territorial Legislature enact Ger
tam laws The Governor can, if he
by insisting on the legislation that the peopIe
cannot grant. In this way the present com
mission could be continued The enemies of
the MormOns cry out about treason but they
cannot point TO a single act of that kind
Ihey nave tried to provoke the MormOns into
some overt act that would give preteNt for
calling for troops, hut none such have been
committed. This Edmunds act was well cal
Gulaied 10 arouse such Indignation as would
break peaceful bounds, but the people have
borne with patience and will bear on.