Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-03-03
THE WOODBURY. BILL.
Opinions OF Prominent Local Attor-
neys on the Anti-Morm0n
Measure.
II May BE Added to the Edmunds Bill
and Other Alterations Made.
The General Idea That Radical Legis-
latiOn Must Come, and
Let IL Come.

Congressman Woodburn's bill to disfran-
chise the entire Mormon population, con-
tanned the statement that the bill had
"received the approval of the prominent
Gentiles in Utah. and not few com
ments have been called out here
by the announcement. The fact that
a general and concerted action
does not seem to have been taken
among the Gentiles in relation to
the measure, has been used to show that
the statement was false and unwarranted.
To ascertain some facts in regard to this
matter, and to obtain the views OF law
yers on the bill, DEMOCRAT reporter
called on several prominent attorneys
this morning, most OF whom were found
in their Offices ready to express Il candid |
opinion, as we'll as to furnish what infor-
nation was in their possession.
j. c. RoYLE,
OF Marshal & Royle, had not known or |
heard OF the bill before he read it in the
newspapers. lie was OF the opinion that
it had not originated here, excepting so
far as being influenced by the expressed
opinions of some of our citizens. 1t GER
tainly had not been framed by the prom
submitted to them for their approval,
he was equally assured. The popular cry
of the Mormon people that the Gentiles
were seeking to obtain possession OF the
offices and property here would, he
thought, constitute u sufficient cause TO
prevent any such action on the part of
the respectable Gentiles. Speaking for
himself, he would rather help the Nor
mon people than hurt them in this re-
spect, and there were many others who
felt exactly the same. But the people
must cease their defiance OF the law or
they will precipitate things disastrously
for themselves. The Woodburn bill
would, in his opinion, be tackled on to the
| Edmunds bill, and both OF them would
probably undergo some alterations; in
the latter it was quite probable that the
clauses pertaining to the confiscation of
church property and the testifying of the
wife against her husband might be strck-
en- out. The assertion that these measures
sought to discriminate against re-
ligious belief was not true. 1t was
only intended to reach Il class who aid
and abet crime; and certainly all the
Mormon people are guilty of this, either
in the matter of preaching, encouraging,
advising or sustaining by tithes and other
contributions. The law everywhere has
always punished persons who aided and
abetted crime; and polygamy was de-
clared to be crime, and is still upheld
and practiced by the people here. OF
course it would appear strange TO deprive
man OF his franchise who never opens
his mouth against the law, but those who
do not preach or advise the practice of
polygamy unquestionably aid and sustain
the practice by contributing to the sup
/ port OF those who have declared their
intention to adhere to the law of God
at the expense OF the law OF the
land. / have advised some of my
Mormon friends that nothing but
obedience to the laws would save the
people here from serious trouble, and
am very sorry to see that they are deter
j.. mined TO bring on the issue.
q G. W. BENNETT,
t Who recently returned from Washing
ton, was pretty certain that the Wood
Il burn bill had been formulated under the
: cognizance OF Senator Edmunds, rs such
: Il measure had been contemplated rs an
h addition to the Edmunds bill. The
6 points covered by this new bill
were talked OF in his (Bennett's) presence
If before Edmunds and others, and there
!, was little doubt it would pass and
e become law. 1t might take the place Of
= the former amendment which Edmunds
4 had consented to have attached to his
bill, and there might be still further
e additions made before the Edmunds bill
J. would come up for final action. AS TO it
n passing, Mr.. Bennett thought there wa.
$ no doubt whatever that any measure re
e ported favorably by the judiciary Com
,. mittee would 90 through both houses
e without any difficulty.
!, j. l.. RAwLINs
y Had not heard anything of the Woodburr
:, bill, except what he had read in the
u press dispatchcs He had, however
u learned from parties 1T Washington tina
!, such measure vas to be framed anC
u brought before Congress.
: j. II. M'BRIDE
e Did not know OF any action having beer
oi taken to obtain his approval or that O
ID any other lawyer upon the bill recent,
- introduced by Representative WOODBURY.
Of 1t was, however, II pretty generally un
m derstood fact that such measure wa
II favored by many attorneys and promi
nent citizens here, and it is more thar
ID likely that those who have gone to tn
ID National Capital from here have advo
to Gated such Il bill as the one referred to.
. Il. l.. WILLIAMS
Was found in his new offices in tn
Hooper and Eldredge block. lie had n
I doubt but the approval OF prominen
Gentiles referred TO in connection witt
D. the Woodburn bill consisted OF the knowl
er edge at Washington that such law Il
Ill the Woodburn bill provided had bee
e, generally favored by lawyers and leadin
tn citizens here. He thought there could b
IS no doubt us to the passage Of som
of such Il measure during the presen
ID session OF Congress, and believe
,r- the results would be far preferabl
ne to legislative commission There wer
by those here who feared that an admir-
NJ istration by minority such rs woul
ne come into control OF the local goyernmer
a in the event OF such bill becoming la
d. would give place to asperity and woul
NC furnish conditions that would reflect dii
he credit upon the local administration
he But ii even these results should follow
a there would certainly arise nothing whic
nd could not be met and disposed OF SAITH
lie factorily. As ii has been here, officers {
IA high position have been permitted I
ed step out OF Office under anythin
but honorable circumstances. I'll
ed only difference would be that while her,
"a toicre they have been continued in til
good fellowship Of the Administrative
without exposure OF crookedness or pun
ishment Tor their dishonOrable practice,
AT in the change that would be inaugurate
~ every officer who failed to honestly an
N..a Ill la II