The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-02-10

l teryiewcd as follows: "Goyornor, there are
rumors that the election tomorrow may
preeipitate riot. and serious trouble may
ensue. What Is your opinlons
"l am OF the opinion thut the election
will be peaceful one. Both pntties are
working 10 this end.
How will the result Of the election affect
statehooig'
Tho Gentiles will probably curry the
city bv 1890 majority. This caa hdye Il"
] immediate eject on statehood. IL Wlll be
sometime. probably yrars. before the Gen.
tiles control the territory. and TAN should
not be admitted as sintp until a Large ma
| iorty of her people are in 'yinpnthy WIN
/ efforts OF the government 10 cNtipate po-
lygamy."
"Will the Gentle success cdect the
prosperity OF Salt Lake iniuriouslyi
Z Gentle success will mean large increase
[ IN ilnmigrat ion 90 the city and consequently
/ incrcase in business and general prosperity,
I During the last two ycnrs the increase IN
Gentle people las added millions 10 the
\ value OF property. In fact, the Increase N
values during the past two Nenrs has been
greater than at any previous period IN The
history of the territory. THIS Is directly
due TO efforts ot GeniiloS, who comprise
about two-thirds of the business men of the
city and own over 60 per cent. OF the asscss-
cd value of property"
"What issue has been most prominent in
/ this municipal campaign!
There have been many local issues winch
have become prominent. questions Of wutvr
supply. need Of public improvements. oi
ponce protection, in short, noed of many
/ benefits which municipal government ought
! toconfer After over forty years of Mormon
control there is not one paved street IN the
city. There are no sidewalks, except laid
/ by private enterprise. The water supply ~
| limited. though water in abundance can be
had If proper effort is made. policeman
Is never seen two squares from Main street.
| All this is III city with 5l,O0) population.
! In Il larger sense the great ovcrshadowlng
question dominates in overy election,
municipal or general. The Geniiles demand
that when laws are passed they should he
obcyed and that when courts of last resort
have decided laws 10 be valid
! there should no longer be controversy re-
specting them. The law of 1s62 maxine
polygamy unlawful was flagrantly violated.
The same law prohibited any church cor
poration from holding more than $1,000
worth of property. This was deiiantly dis
regarded and the Mormon church became
mammoth business concern. in competition
with its own people. At the time OF the
passage of the Edmunds-Iucker act II
owned the telegraph system of the territory,
| the majority of stock in the street railway
aud in the gas company of Salt Lake.
I II also owned the Deseret Evening News,
the Salt 1Lake theatre, the Savings bank.
large blocks of stock in Deseret National
and other banks, and larger amount OF
| improved and unimproyed property. In
addition to this John Taylor Said in 1850
that the church owned $4,000 of the
81 ,OO0O COO of the capital stock of the Zion
cooperative Mercantile Institution. besides
large herds of cattle and other animals in
different parts of the territory. IL was this
vast accumulation of property that was IN
violation of the law which led 10
the act by congress eEcheating this
surplus property of public schools. II is a
remarkable fact though that no GENTLE IN
Utah asked for the passage Of the contisco-
ton act. They deplored Il as they real
| lied that they would be charged with iry-
ing TO rob the Normons. The 4. {. NJ. /,
founded by the church. is greater menace
| 10 business interests than any trust which
exists III the east. The Edmunds- Tucker
laws have been sullenly submitted to-"
1.-The Gentiles believe that II opportunity
presented itself. the old system row par
TALLY rcpfessed by federal law would be ie-
stored; that many church doctrines and
practices are hostile and inimical 10 the
government. and these being accepted and
| in hostile attitude toward the govern
ment."
Governor have been told by Mormons
that Gentle success means Mormon spolin-
| ton"
"Snch a statement can only be made for
effect east. II is "A fact that there is not a
case Of record in the courts Of the territory
where 80 far as ! know, Mormon has ever
been despoiled of one dollar by GENTLE.
4 ~. - N
Powers. chairman Of the liberal party. has
TO say; IL is the last resort of the defeated
party. The liberals have kept strictly
within the law and have run An honest emu
paign, open and above board. In June,
when tho battle began, the Murmons com
menced coOnizing the city and continued
work until the close of registration. They
brought from Mormon towns LOO men,
mostly single, whom they put to work on
sewers and public canals. These men were
not entitled to vote hero. We traced them
out and followed them 40 closely that only
80 registered. Under our law it is
tho duty of registrars during
the two weeks preceding the election
10 hear objections Of voters and 10 strike
/ those not entitled TO vote from the list. We
challenged these 50J coloniaers. and also
those whom we had reason 10 believe were
pOlyesmists. No man WAS challenged with
out reasonable cause. During the registra-
ton John Boniield WIS imported from
Chicago and brought with him men who
We have shown 10 be thieves, thugs burg
lars and reporters. and the cry of fraud was
opened. tnder the cover OF this cry they
hoped Ia vote their repcatcrs and work
! their finn Hammers. The law under which
registrars have acted Is Mormon law
adopted by the Legislature unanimously
Mormon ugain5t GENTLE protest and was
framed for the express purpose of prevent
| ing Geutilcs from obtaining footing IN tho
territory. Now that officers are appointed
/ by the tab commission and Gcntilcs, the
| Mornons cry ont against this child of their
own creation. Instead of hphtng mHnlN
| fight. they sit on their launches and bars
| like cOyutes.'