Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-08-11
Gov. Emery on tho MOrmons.


George w. Emery, Ex-Governor of
Utah, was at the Grand Pacific Chica-
60, en- route from his cattle ranch in
southern Idaho to his home in Boston,
Mass.
A reporter held short conversation
with him in reference to the Mormon
question and the outlook generally in
Utah.
"How is Gov. West liked by the
people in Utah?" he was asked.
''He is pretty we'll liked by both
Mormons and Gentiles. The former
seem to think they have something to
hope for from his administration, and
and thus far feel more kindly towards
him than they did towards his immedi-
ate predecessor, Gov. Murray"
"How do you explain this?''
"From the feet that West is new
man and Democrat, and because he
has visited some of the imprisoned
ones. You know the political predi-
lections of the Mormons are with the
Democratic party, although l cannot
think of any especial reason for it, un-
less perhaps because they received no
favors from the Republican party
while in power. My own opinion is
that they have nothing more to expect
from one political party than the
other"
"Did not the first act of the Demo-
cratic Administration prejudice the
Mormon population against the Demo-
cratic part?''
mot particularly. The Mormons
are now more thoroughly united and
have less discussions and splits than
ever BEFORE
"Are the Federal officials still push
ing the cases against the Mormons, aud
are the latter taking any of the retalia-
tory steps they did some time back?'
Eyes, prosecutions for violation of
the Federal statutes are being pushed
as vigorously as possible, but am not
aware that the people are making any
retailatory moves. You see. the Nor
mons no longer regard going to the
penitentiary for practicing polygamy
as disgraceful or criminal, but, on the
contrary, look upon it as in the nature
of a martydom. 1t is true that Presi-
dent Taylor has never been apprehend-
ed and that Geo. @. Cannon has for
feited his bond and is supposed to be
abroad. 1t is also true that great
man of the leaders ha left the Ter
ritory and that large number have
joined the settlemer is in Southern Col
orado, New and Old Mexico, and in
Arizona; but there are great many left,
and the leadership is being assumed
by the men who have only one wife or
are not living in state of polygamy."
do those who are left practice the
poly gamy as openly as they did before
the law was so rigidly enforced?''
mo. They live more quietly and
one hears less of their doctrines than u
short time back. They seem more
quiet than ever before, but, neverthe-
less, more determined.
ultimate outcome Of the Mormon ques-
tionp'
"Polygamy in Utah and other
Territories will undoubtedly disappear
in time, but there will always be
Mormons and Mormon churches.
Tue doctrine, in fact, will last just as
long as that of Methodism or any
other. The Elders of the church are
hard at work all the time all over the
civilized world, and they are just as
energetic and industrious as the
representatives of other denominations.
Then. again, the young men of the
faith are coming to the front and the
work of PROSECUTING is not left entirely
to the old grayheads."
Are there any new features in the
question which have been developed
since the incumbency of Gov. West?'
II think not, unless the unostenta.
tious method of living recently adopt
ed by the Mormons can be called q
new development of the question: Ali
of them are living more quietly than
heretofore, and have less to say about
their particular tenets."
"What about the development of the
Territoryp'
swell, it is holding its own in agricul-
ture, grazing and mining. In the lat
ter respect, matters are very promising,
as the mines are looking better and
yielding more mineral than for q num-
Der Of years past. The population is
increasing sli Chilly, although the new
settlers are chiefly Gentiles."
Ex-Gov. Emery generally spends two
or three months every summer on his
ranch, which is just three miles and q
half over the Utah line, and in Salt
Lake City.