Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-01-07
TIfE MORMoNs.
Some Original O~bservationons the situa-
tion In Utah.
RosAnn Tr, xcilsr

tion In Utah.
Boston Traveller.
Captain John Goldman has recently
returned from Utah, with which part
OF the country he is familiar, and in
regard to which he has published
severa pamphlets and newspaper ar
ticies. He was met by q representa-
tive OF the Traveller in an Office of
this city a fewdays ago. In reply %
question as TO the recent emeute in
Salt Lake City, he said that it was
totally devoid of truth, and that dis
patches he has received from his cor
respondents there express great sur
prise at the intelligence OF it. which
only came to their knowledge through
Eastern reports that have reached
them. In Captain Codman's opinion
It was a curiously devised scheme OF
GENTLE malcontents, who built it up
on the slight foundation OF a street
encounter in which only two individ.
uals were engaged, which produced
the excitement that would naturally
ensue in a small town where people
have little to talk about. "'The gem
eral topics OF conversation" he said,
Gin Salt Lake City, are Mormonism,
~poiygamy, and sexual vice, and any
little row of this kind affords rather q
pleasing variety.
"lt reminds me of an incident at
Boise City, Idaho. There w.ss a dog
tight in the street. A large crowd had
collected ut the scene OF action, and
some n attempted 10 separate the
animals. The newly appointed Co..
srnor Bum, who was looking on ex-
claimed: For Gods sake let them
alone. 1t is the only excitement we
have had since | came here
Seriously it is TO be regretted that
such q nasty condition OF things pre-
walls in Utah. The Gentiles are as
much in fault as the Mormons. In
deed they are more so, for their official
organ, the Tribune, is full of the most
disgusting details of crime daily
spread before the eyes of their own
women and children. AS to this
street disturbance, it was used by the
newspaper as the foundation for the
malicious fabrication telegraphed the
New York World with a view to infu.
ence the Presidents message and to
convey to him a false impression
when it was too late for him to inves-
tigateit."
What has been the effect OF the Ed
munds law?" was asked Of Captain
Goldman.
at has been successfully, although
somewhat arbitrarily, enforced" he
replied. at has completely put a stop
to new cases OF polygamy. There has
not been q contract of plural mar.
riage' in Utah for the last six months.
The late prosecutions have been di-
rected against the continuance OF the
practice by those already polyGam-
lists. The punishment for this is six
months Imprisonment and $500 fine.
The court, in its discretion, has been
willing to remit the imprisonment il
the person convicted viii promise to
abandon the practice. This has been
done in a few instances notably that
OF Bishop Sharp, but it is to beregret-
ted that he has not the following he
had anticipated. Most ofthe culprits
prefer to be martyrs at such a cheap
cost. The penalty ought to be much
more severe, so that m~artyrdom
would become a more expensive lux.
ury."
"What new legislation do you con.
slider necessary" was asked.
The reply was: None whatever, ex-
eepting such an increase Of the penalty
thst obedience would be preferable to
Imprisonment. This, instead of six
months with nothing to do. should be
Tor FIVE years with hard labor"
Would Utah be better ruled under
a commission?" was the next inquiry,
mo" he replied; with such a com
mission as is proposed to be selected
rom resident Gentiies / can not con.
oeive OF q more deplorable condition
OF things. The Government is now in
the hands of the homogeneous Nor
mons, and they administer it wisely
and economically. There is nc dis
position whatever on the part of
any Mormons to antagonize the laws
Of the United States in any respect ex-
cepting where they bear on the single
crime of polygamy. With that excep-
ton, ] say unhesitatingly they are as
loyal to the Government as any peo-
pie In the land. They have no dispo-
sition whatever to rebel. They can
not be kicked into n rebellion. They
submit without resistance to punish
msnt, and as | have said, the punish
ment ought to be made so severe that
they will choose to obey this as we'll
as every other law OF the Government
rather than be punished at ALL"