The Dawson journal., 1884-10-23
A VOICE FROM UTAH.
A Man with Four Wives Mourns that
Salt Lake City is Gradually Drop
ing into Gentle Ways.
CINCINNATI Timcs-Star.

James E, Cowan, the Kentuck-
ian who some years ago created
quite sensation in the vicinity of
frankfort by deserting pretty
young wife and becoming convert
ed to the Mormon faith, has been
visiting friends at227 Clark Street,
and taking in the exposition. His
wife died about two years ago
broken-hearted His old mother,
who lived out on the Frankfort
and Lexington pike, also died
about a month ago, and his real
object in coming east again is to
take charge of the property, he
being the only child.
Cowan has aged considerably,
but still is straight as an arrow,
and has the same old naughty ex-
preston of his face. He will be
remembered as one of the few men
who escaped from the Columbus
prison with John Morgan, the
famous rebel scout, and has the
reputation of being a very brave
and daring man. AS he has be-
come very popular among the
Mormons, coupled with the cruel
desertion OF his wife, his visit
home will excite considerable COM
ment and make him valuable mate
rial for the newspapers. After
meeting him and talking a few
minutes, Time Star reporter
said; "Mr. Cowan, tell me some
thing about Utah. l understand
you are married?"
Eyes, | have four wives at pres
ent and sixteen living children"
"And do you think polygamy
the right kind Of social existence?
Don't you think it produces very
bad results?"
Young man let me tell you
something about that. There are
no poor, ruined creatures who have
to prowl the streets at night to
gain a miserable subsistence by
preying upon the weakness of men;
and, best of all, there are no young
girls who are mothers before they
are wives"
"Do you think polygamy will
continue in the Territory?'
"That is pretty hard problem
to solve. Some of our sons and
daughters, who have been educat-
ed,,outside of Utah, object to polyg-
amy. In that case we do not
force them to have but one hus-
band or wife at one time. Polyg-
amy is perfectly constitutional,
and the newspaper chatter of sup
pressing the religion is bosh. We
have the same right to our faith
as the Christian or Jews have to
theirs. Our enemies are not on
the outside, but in the Territory.
A large number OF the leaders of
the people are not Mormons at
heart, and their secret influence Is
hurtful to that great religious IA
bric that Joe Smith and Brigham
Young erected"
"Will not this marriage question
create division in social cir
cles?'
at has already done it, Those
who favor one marriage are great
" in the minority at present, but
are ferociously aggressive and
constantly gaining in numbers"
"And in what portion Of the
Territory is this question agitated
mostly?"
Tn Salt Lake City. Here is
more refinement and here the In
dependent party, as we call it, has
the largest following. Another
strange feature about the move
mept is that the Gentiles there
seem to take no interest IN the
movement whatever, but say they
are willing to let time work out
the result. Another adj
8itional bad feature about the sit
nations is that a great many OF
the elders have become dissatisfied
and are removing from the city
out into the country.
"And is there the same hostility
TO Gentiles that there used t'
. be?"
"Ah, no; association has soften
: ed a great deal of that feeling tn"
existed at one time. Gentiles hav'
: better chances to make none,
e than they did ten years ago, l