The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-12-28
WANDERER.
II, Regular Communication a:ati
HIS s.a mt the National Capital.
-, Utah COMMISSION WORK
.on Habeas Corpus = The
The ClaS ExpositiOn-Miscei-
Ianeous Mention.
-..,.aror. December IS, So:

.,rxeroY, December Is, 1884.
o-...nondenee of The HERALD
oG The Utah Commission, or three mem
Inc it-Governor Ramsey, Judge
me[' - and Col Godfrey-have been
CaIlS. md met and done nothing SO far
here, ' 10 ascertained. Secretary Arthur
as '1 orlonas was also here, but is ex-
l =, to turn his face Salt Lakeward
PSo''a aveping, and will probably be &C
lnl3 o.nied part of the way by Col.
CON- ,t-ar and certainly by Governor"
oO'- who has also been here for a
lam, 5sys while Judge Carleton and
lo" Ramsey may remain until
S S,9,r at which time they also may
o.ootod TO shake the national
be e1P ond decamp for other parts.
capl.4l Thomas was seen last evening
oeCIs IT,. ont of the dining room of the
cGnn7 House. and the inquisitOrial
hnL'TS-ovIsid him: Eyes" he said, 1.-The
Ilus Gs:i have held one meeting and
81 la,,-nbabIy hold another tomorrow;
VII .Ftatbing of any material Importance
~. -I-CCi-pd They meet here each year
III 3 view to making more extended
hIaIonations for their recommends
icns than can be expressed in report,
- IN seee that the recommendations,
90 far as they can, may receive
o+tonfion and answer such questions
nav he mt to them by the executive
oFicers under whom they act, and to
DoSnond to queries from the Senate
judiciary committee, if that body have
any to PROFOUND"
0uery-HaVe they been called upon
this time?
not very likely they will be calledIupon.
One particular thing they propose doing
i TO submit the question of the right of
nojvoa;nists to vote at meetings tor
trustees in the school districts III Utad.
The commission was asked to determine
the right of this class of citizens to vote
and fbey will refer it to the attOrL ey-
General for his opinion. which viii
Govern their decision in the matter.
Ouerv-Mr. Thomas, how do you &C
count for the severity of the commas
sione1', report this year, as compared
with that of the preceding one?
Mr.. ThOmas-Of course. l cannot
speak for them; but my opinion is that
thew were largely influenced by what /
their report charge s-thatpolygamy has
been boldly and defantly taught and
urged upon the people, and that great
many pOlygamOus marriages have been
entered into. notwithst anding the Ed
munds law, and the active prosecutions |
against it, To say the least, the leaders |
have been unwise and their cause is
calculated to bring to naught much of
the lsbors of the commission in their
temperate efforts to diScountenance and
discourage the practice. | cannot
avoid the belief that the disfranchise-
ment of some men has had the effect of
making them wrathful to a very I'M
usual degree and knowing it is all up
with them, they are Indifferent to a
large degree as to the consequences upon
Others. and consequently talk in an I'M
wise and wrath-prOvoking spirit. 1t is
also belief that about 200 men, who
are unable to vote, still control the poll
teal situation in Utah, and say who
Shall and who shall not hold Office
Query-Doe' that affect the Commits
SION, admitting 1t to be true, or in any
way concern the performance of their
duties under the law ? and is there any
tangible evidence, that as is presumed.
polygamiSts are still all powerful pol
ideally?
Mr. Thomas cannot say that the
llrSt does, nor that there is absolute in
formation as to the latter, though it is
the presumption.
Query-Among other things the Com
mission recommend that the Governor
De gwen power to appoint with the !
consent OF the Commission all or
nearly all-certainly all the important |
oheS-tne Territorial and county off |
CsTS' ana give as reason therefor, that /
d VIII assist them in their efforts to |
suppress polygamy. Win you explain /
40" IhlS Is to be accomplished, or how
one reason given is a corrollary, or
SouIu De natural correlatiYe of giving
recommendedP 0''' ''i'7 P0"0'
NJ 4homas-AS l said before the
E.;T sulilptlon Is that men disfranchised
, III Sgntrol the gift of office. This |
,,.o' uig uo away with that condition, and
t %UI ~ cause young men of worth to
90 i;!I!.uependent of pOlygamists in their
an opposition. - "0'''a 'ii''S CREATE
- SCTeIy-WIl you kindly tell me what
.ne commission have to do with creating
VS. yIis opposition? What authority?
Maat rlght2 What concern is it of
eIe.fS 1t is an incontrovertibIe fact
,aat no one who has ever lived in po1v-
s fFILny can. either vote or hold Office
LnaI was the object of the EdmundS
law, that was the reason for the an
IN ~ 'ulent OF the Commission. and that
i all they have to do with if More
I p8er' II that were their reason. we can
ave nothing to say with it. for il is
. Ios SHOWN that the premises upon which
onT T recommendation is based-tbat
: iygaa lS-s hold still all political power
tnIng absurd on its faces fdn U%9a
- II TACT and they do not give if as
JASON Jason, | ask you as man who is dis
gILse o. be fair and honest. as a man
SEG desires to retain a renTtat;or -1 for
eanlt.'eaIlgence, if you would not 10
, - 1lIed to have such a reason cradi+ed
- you as that which the Commits
Ion give for their recommendation
- la - me giving of the appointing mover
- ~ we Governor would have a tendencv
0[SIuPRTeSS polygamy?
on. NJ: Ihomas-I believe q man aIwors
I ~ - INTO trouble by saving too mmcb
NJ : ~ nc. not like to beinterTiewed, nonid
nes q say that the reasons given are f6oUo