The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-29
The Time Not Yet Arrived for Ita
Admission.
Monmonism Still as Much a Social
Evil as Ever.
The Mormon Church Dominating alt
tho Public Schools.
II Is still In Control Of All tho Public
Institutions Energetic Enforce
mont OF the Laws Roc
ommended.

ment OF the Laws Roc
commended.
WAsuINGroN, Sept. 2S.-The majority
report OF the Utah commissioners, signed
by q. J. Godfrey, \. h. Williams and
Arthur l.. Thomas, was received this
morning by the Secretary OF the Interior.
The recommendation of the last annual
report IL renewed, that Utah should not
be admitted to the Union until such timo
M the Mormon people shall manifest by
their future acts that they have abolished
polygamy in good faith, aud not until then
amendment shall have been made TO the
constitution of the United States prohibit.
Ing the practice OF polygamy. Tho report
add that tho convention which adopted the
proposed constitution, upon which an ap-
peal was made to Congress for admission
10 the Union, was held without authority
from any proper source. IL is further as.
serted that the proposed constitution is
silent with respect TO the crime of polyg-
amy aud the commissioners are Of tho
opinion that the government cannot afford
Ia surrender the great advantage which il
now holds and which has been secured at
much expense and trouble. They aso
think that no harm eau result from delay
in the admission Of the Territory. Tho
| report claims that the action Of the Senate
committee in this matter, in reporting
that there must be undoubtcd evidence
ON the part OF the Mormon people Of tho
| abandonment Of polygamy before tho
| -. 4
and also that of the House committee in
reporting ia,orably the prohibitory amend
| mrnt to the constitution, supports tho
views Of the majority Of the commission.
II n also stated in the report that tho
Democratic aud Republican parties in
Utah, In their conventions recently held,
indufscd the position recently taken in
the majority report. Tho report further
states that since the report oi last year tho
Legislative Assembly oi Utah has granted
to the minority, or the un-Mormun elc-
mcnt, representation IN the control II tho
public institutions provided for local rcp-
rcscntltion IN salt lake and other cities.
Tho Recommendation OF last year that tho
Governor OF the Territory he given power
to appoint county officers aA tohowE Se-
| lcc'mCn, clerks, assessors, recorders and
supcriutendents oi public schools IL re-
| ~
session In January last. the report states,
| dcniod the Governor the right 10 appoint
| the Territorial treasurer, auditor and other
| officers, and Il IL added:
Thu. Is presented the spectacle Of tho
chief representative oi the federal governs
mcnt In Utah being denied the right 10
exercise his legal authority, while at the
same time the agents and leaders NJ those
who are responsible for this action arc at
the capital ui tho nation, proclniming tho
loyal Submission oi the Mormon people to
the laws and demanding that they be 10
wnrlcd ior It."
Elm our opinion" continued the report,
Zone oi the chief causes for the long safety
! In the settlement In the contest IN Utah
| has been the exercise Of political pow-
cr subordinate 10 the interests OF tho
church"
In commenting upon the fact that tho
public schools Of Utah are, with the OK.
ccpiinn oi few districts In Salt Lake City
aud In the mining regions. under the cun-
troll ~ the Mormon churches. The COM
miEsuncr refer 10 nn act passed by tho
last Legislative Assembly. but vetoed by
thc Governor which provided Tor tho dIs-
lrhu'ion oi the public school fund lOr tho
support Of public anl private schools;
also. ihu opinion expressed 10y President
WiIdrd Woodruff. under date II June q,
lA.t. that "thr education oi our children
should bo taken in hand by us Us people.
10 The prtunl of books w. value
Hs divine rrrDIlE H forbidden. Our Chil.
dpn. II lrIt tp thr training they receive in
thrlo schools. will grow up entirely ignor-
ant of those principles " salvation ior
which lhc lst',f-dny saints have made 20
many sacrifices. Tho desire
is universally cXpusscd by all thinking
urUpln loo the church that We should have
schools whore thc Bible, the Book Of Nor
mon. and the Book oi Doctrine aud Cove
nnuta uan bc used aB text books, and
where ihc principles Of our religion may
form part oi the teachings Of our
! schools"
From these circumstances the majority
| conclude that the Mormon church Is com.
mitl.d lo policy, which 10 sucyrsIul,Will
prove destructive 30 the public school sys-
/ ipm in Utah. The recommendation y
| therefore renewed that suPcr,nicnd'nis oi
| public schools b. appUluiuhio by ihr gov
puur. During the past year the different
| RELIGIOUS denominations hal In operation
ninety schools. attended hy 7.li2 pupils
/ Oi ihis number thu Presbyterian church
! controlled thifty.thrr VI thg schools, iIr
Congregational twenty-five, the Methodist
l twenty. the Catholic soycn, Tie lVsuNl'
I lilu i've the baptist two aud ihu Swedish
/ one. Tho rpoH expresses the opinion
| that the work under the law ut IUnfU3
with respect 10 the registration OF voters
/ and the conduct of elections las hg'u at-
islnrtuully performed Daring iuc year
| thor, have bccn eight Indictments i1r 70
| lyramy aud four convictions jDl indici.
mcnia ior unlawful cohlb.Btln, and 5-B
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