The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-03-11
JUDGE sUTHERLAND's VIEWS.
The Chances of Powers COnfirma-
tiOn-The Utah Question.

Judge Sutherland, who has been abb
sent in Washington since the beginning
OF January, returned home last even
ing. Itwas well known that opposition
to Judge Powers confirmation was one
of the objects that called him thither,
and DESTROYS of learning what progress
had been made in the fight, as we'll as
desire to confirm THE HERALD's Ere
quently expressed doubts as to Powers
being confirmed, a HERALD reporter
called upon the gentleman last evening.
and Immediately plunged into the OBJ
ject of his GRAND. by asking:
g. Judge, what are the chances OF
Powers confirmation? Have you any
idea that he will be confirmed
Not the slightest" was the res
ponse.
Who have been the principal workers
in his behalf2'
Don NJ. Dickinson, of Michigan, and
Mr.. C.. w. Bennett. of this city, have
bt en- the principal champions of the
present judge of the First district"
did Powers have any influential back
ing?"
cS, dI uISl, DuI lildIlN VI LIS OuCc
staunch supporters have reracted their
endorsements, and that of course, leaves
him i'll very weak condition. Proofs
OF a substantial character have been
filed by his neighbors in Kalamazoo
the town he halls from, of very dam
aging character. and they affect his in
tegrity as lawyer, and as man gen.
orally. He has met with strong opposi-
ton even from his own State, promi-
nent men. without regard to party, pro-
tie ting against his confirmation"
What is the general opinion as 10
Powers legal abilities ?"
You may judge of this when say
that his actions here are frequently
alluded to by the members of the Senate
as being decidedly humorous, and he Is
the subject of great laughter and ridicule
among them"
From whom did he derive his sup
port at the outset"
He was mainly supported on &C.
count of Dlckinson's Infuence-very
few, if any, knew anything about him.
but there is every reason to believe that
even Dickinson himself is weakening,
and has abandoned The idea that Powers
will ever be confirmed. There was a
rumor in Washington before left that
Powers had concluded to resign, and it
was generally supposed that Dickinson
was the authority for it. OF course,
Powers may be given an opportunity
to resign, but there is no reason 10 sup
pose that he will ever be confirmed"
Low soon, do you suppose, action
will be taken upon his nomination."
lit will probably be &C ed upon as
soon as the present deadlock between
the Senate and President Is opened"
Were there any Utah people at
| Washington in the interest of Powers,
except Mr.. Bennett?"
No. Col. Merritt took no part, either
one way or the other"
What of the Utah situation in
Washington. Judge? What are the
proSnecis for the Edmunds bill passing
the House?"
LAS To the Edmunds bill in particular
[ hardly know, but there can be nc
doubt but that if the bill engineered by
the senator from Vermont fails to be-
come law, something equally as harsh
will go through. Congress, l believe,
is ready to pass anything that may tend
to break up the influence of the Nor
mon Church in political questions in
| Titan. and so far as lave been able TO
| Judge. the Democrats are equally as
anxious and as willing to pass such
measures as the Republicans ever were.
The Mormon question is prominent
topic of discussion at the Capital, and
the abolition of the suffrage now held
| by the women of Utah is one of the
principal points of attack"