Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-07
UTAH MORMONS INCREASING.
During the Last Nine Years 10000
Additional Foreign Born.
UNCONVENTIONAL Schools Being EStab-
liShed in the State.
The Mormon Church an Enemy of the
Public Schools.

WASHINGTON, Nov. t. - Governor
Thomas, of Utah territory. in his annual
report says that during the last nine years
the foreign born population has been in
creased by the mormon migration by l6.-
600. Upon the subject of unoccupied pub
lie lands the governor says the question
of what the government should do with
vast tracts of land which can be used only
for grazing purposes is assuming vital i'm
portance throughout the west
Under the present conditions unoc-
cupied lands are used by persons
engaged In stock raising, and there is no
harmony of interests among them, but a
conflict between the clashing interests
The governor is of the opinion that If the
government would provide some way by
which persons engaged in stock growing
could acquire the title to grazing lands
which can never he used for agricultural
purposes it would remove one of the most
serious drawbacks to the growth
of the live stock industry
and promote the settlement of the country.
The grazing and mountain lands of Utah
constitute nearly seven-eighths of the en-
tire land area of the territory. In the
course of his remarks upon the public and
UNCONVENTIONAL schools, the governor says:
While Utah has very fair system of pub
lie schools, they fall far short of what
they should be. The tax collected
for the support of schools does not pay one
half the expense of maintaining the
schools, consequently pupils must pay
tuition fees or the schools will be closed
In many Of the poorer districts the child
rem are denied school privileges for many
months of the year. | am led to believe
there is no prospect that this will
be changed by the fact that
the Mormons are preparing for
a UNCONVENTIONAL school In which
their children may be taught the Mormon
theology in addition to the ordinary
branches of education. The state or
county academies have been established
under the church auspices and In some
school districts the Mormon childred have
been withdrawn from the public schools
and placed In the church schools. The
governor quotes from letter written
by Priest Woodruff of the Mormon church
to show that it is the purpose of the
church to establish these church
schools. In it Woodruff says:
"Our children, if left to the training they
receive in these public schools, will grow
up entirely ignorant of those principles of
salvation for which the latter-day saints
made so many sacrifices. To permit this
condition of things to exist among us
would be criminal. .
Remarking upon this letter, the governor
says it is plain that the church has decided
to take its place as an enemy of the public
school system, and the principles which
are at its foundation. Speaking of the
gentle strength in the territory, the
governor says: The time may come when
the gentiles will be in the majority, but
it will be many years hence The facts are
that outside of Salt Lake City and Ogden.
the gentle population is found
in mining camps and in smaller railroad
towns" The governor writes at length
upon the present attitude of the mormon
people. They have accepted the doctrine
of polygamy, he says, and will probably
adher to it as long as they live. They ac-
cept the doctrine of plural mar
riage in all sincerity as a radical
and necessary part of their religion.
The Mormon church, the governor says,
is actively engaged in politics, and adds:
q do not hesitate to say that any temper
ling policy which leaves the church in a
position to control the political policy of
the territory is only delaying final settle
ment and that future legislation should be
aimed at the political power of the church,
which has been the main pillar of It's
In Utah.