Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-31

n
CANNON SAYS HE Is NOT TO SUCCEED PRESIDENT
TAYLOR, AS REPORTED.
Hon. George @. Cannon, ex-delegate in Congress
from Utah, In conversation with STAR reporter
said: "The Edmunds law has had precisely the
effect l predicted; just the effect told Senator
Edmunds 1t would have, but he thought was too
much interested to give an unbiased opinion. 1t has
'whooped our people up to use a cannon but ex-
pressive term To illustrate: There is grandson
or Brigham Young, young man, not over % years
or age lie is rather wild; not bad, but he has al
ways been rather careless with regard to religion
His friends have believed that his syr1pathieS were
with the antt-Mormon element. and perhaps they
were, in a measure Well, at the last election he
went up to the ballot-box, and, putting In his VOTE
said: 'They have disfranchised pap. (lis father.)
but III put In vote that will count for his SIDE
You see he has but one wife. never had any more,
and they couldn't disfranchise HIM"
THE LAW NOT OBNOXIOUS TO MoRMoNs, But THE
MODE OF ENFORCING 1T.
Has the EdmundS law been very obnoxious to the
Mormons?" inquired the reporter.
"The law itself has not" replied Mr. Cannon, but
the way 1t is administered is very oppressive. It
mas been given construction not warranted by the
constitution
''In what way?"
from voting for acts alleged have been committed
many years prior to the enactment of the Edmunds
law For instance, the eX-mayor OF Salt Lake City,
had once two wives, but is now widower. He
has been dfsfranchlSed. The present mayor has
but one living wife. He had another who lived but
a short time. He is excluded from voting, though
he, like the other men, committed the alleged
Onense many years before the law was enacted
MIS-. Dr. Richardson widow, was excluded from
another wife. This construction OF the law, max
Ing 1t eC post JdctO, has given rise to many test
suits, and am satisfied 1t will not stand in the
courts But, as said at the outset this persecu-
t1On
HAS MADE OUR PEOPLE MORE UNITED.
1t has driven the young people, who were indf-
ferent, and many Of them Indifferent as to the
church and its teachings, to take Sides 1t placed
them In position where they had to take sides
with their own people or against them, and natur-
ally they have chosen to stand with their parents
and friends Now, at the last election for delegate
our candidate received as many votes as usual,
while the opposition got only what 1t polled when
was elected to the FOrty-fourth Congress Hhe
votes OF the young people, indignant at the op-
pressive construction OF this law against their pa
rents and relations, made up for all that we had
lost by acknowledgements"
's1hen the law has not injured the Mormons?"
put In the reporter.
'NO," said Mr.. Cannon tsexcept that II tfsunplpas-
ant 10 stand persecution. But the people of Utah
CAN STAND GREAT DEAL OF OPPRESSION.
They are united, industrious and frugal, and
having endured much can endure much more
There are good many people in Utah besides Nor
mons, and they can't enforce oppressive laws
some. Now the clique who clamored for the Ed
munds law are very much dissatisfied with it's
operation They were disappointed. Their scheme
was to get entire control Of the territory, and
having failed by this means they want to try
another. Now they want legislative commission,
II they can bring it about. Failing IL hat, they
" VIII perhaps perpetuate the existing commission
IL is TO continue until the territorial legislature
enas. enacts certain laws The governor can, If he
chooses, prevent legislation by his Veto or by in
sistng upon LEGISLATION that the people cannot
grant gon cona n this oowa,yn way the present commits
the the MoImons Morn cry out about treason, but
dney @ nave tried to provoke the Mornons into some
overt act that would give pretext for calling for
troops, put none such have been committed. This
Ednunds act was we'll calculated to arouse such
Indignation as would break peaceful bounds but
the people have borne with patience and will bear
on" ~
THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CHURCH
There was newspaper statement, Mr. Cannon
that you were to succeed Mr. Taylor as the head of
the Mormons. Is that true?"
"No; there is nothing in it. At council Mr.
Taylor Over-exerted himself. and took the stand
ana spoke. That probably gave rise to the story
MT Taylor Is quite Old, but when he dies there are
four or five older men OF the church who are ahead
OF me for the succession"