Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-04-04
UTAH'S PENDING CHANGE
The Mormon Leaders Disheartened by
CIeveland's Vigorous Inaugural.
Important Action Expected at the
April Conference.

''The feeling in Utah at present upon
the polygamy question: said Mr.. c. r
Barratt, of Salt Lake City, and one of the
Oldest Gentiles in Utah, to Post re-
porter in the Briggs Hotel lobby last
night, els deep and earnest, and there is
every reason to believe there will soon be
a marked change The church leaders
waited the advent of the new Admins
tration with hopes for more favorable
treatment, and | think rather expected
it. In these hopes they were encouraged
by the very general assertion by our Re-
publican fellow-citizens and of the Demo-
Gratis opposed to Mr.. Clevaland's election
that the Democratic administration
would favor the Mormons and admit
Utah as State When the inaugural
came with its plain and unmistakable
statement in regard to polygamy the eff
feet was stunning"
'What is it that your people wish from
the Governments"
''What we wish and need in Utah is
simply no church dictation in matters
political; POLITICAL parties organized as
elsewhere, and the enforcement of laws
officers. 1t is not only admitted now, but
asserted by some strong supporters of
past administrations that the officers
have not all been OF this kind. In fact,
the results attained recently. under the
present chief justice and district attorney,
without, believe, any additional legisla-
ton, justifies the suspicion of indifference
at least on the part of the officers hereto
fore. Mr.. John Taylor, the President of
the Church, has not been seen since
about the middle of February. Subpnnas
were issued at that time, summoning
him before the grand jury On March
18th the United States marshal searched
the residences of Mr. Taylor, including
! the elegant Gardo House, finding only
few inmates, who were subpenaed as
witnesses. The whereabouts of Mr.. Tav-
lor is not known. Bv some it is
asserted that he is secreted in the CITY:
by others that he is in the Logan Temple.
some 100 miles north. In addition to
Taylor, large number of the most prom
inent Mormon citizens, who are subject
to arrest and prosecution, are absent
from the city-out of the country or in
hiding. Only three of the twelve
apostles are now to be found in Utah.
and cannot last The impression is that
there will be some move made at the
coming conference, on April 6, to meet
the requirements of the government.
think myself there is disposition on the
part OF the more conservative and wealthy
Mormons to press such action on the
ultra church leaders"
Are there any tokens of an approach
ing change to make you think one prob
able?"
eyes. Apart from the discouraging
effects on the church leaders of the atti- |
tude OF the new Administration, there are
other causes which lead us to hope for
change-not sudden one, perhaps. |
Among these is the foundation within the |
last few months of the Democratic Club |
OF Utah; and, that you may not think the |
Importance OF this Hovement overrated,
let me state that its first public meeting,
held in the Salt Lake Theatre Janu-
airy 8, created a greater sensation, pro-
voked larger and more general discussion
throughout the Territory than any meet
ing OF which l have knowledge during
my residence OF nearly a quarter of CEN
fury; and you will understand why this
might be the case when | tell YOU that
among the officers and members of this
young club are sons Of bishops to-day
prominent IN the church-one son, at
least, of the late Brigham Young and
numbers OF others whose names are
familiar throughout Utah. There are
even members whose fathers are now in
hiding or absent from the Territory to
avoid prosecution for ofenses peculiar to
Utah. There are those among US who
claim these young men are not in earn
est In subscribing to our platform, that it
is a trick put up by the church, or the old
er heads OF the church, to blind those at
distance and mislead the Government.
hope and believe this criticism is unfair.
believe the young men honest and sim
cere. Doubtless many of their fathers
realize now and regret their mistake; in
deed believe they do. These young men
are quite up to the average of intelli-
gence, and they have had such close ac-
qualntance with the evils of the system =
practiced there that they act knowingly.
If you will remember the position which
this movement places them in, | think
you will admit they merit consideration
and encouragement, for blood is thicker
than water, and it takes an effort to turn
against it EVENT. it be wrong"
w IldU 10 Tie IMPRESSION out there IN / I
regard to the change in Federal offices ?''
> Judging from Cleveland's letter and z
the course of the Administration since its t
advent to power the belief is general that t
changes will be slow"
=, Does the rage for Office extend to t
Utah ?" d
81 think that Utah is no exception to Il
he general rule, and to ask if it extends t
% Utah is exactly the way to put it. for C
an tell you'it is one unbroken line from d
here to Utah. l have met prospective a
narshals, not only in Salt Lake and Il
Washington, but at any number of sta t.
ions between. If Utah can set down in Il
Ter census report all those applying for
ftice as claiming residence in Utah the a
population will entitle her to admission il
S two States instead Of one. Washing d
on Star ii