New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-15
PRICE THREE CENTS.
CAN MORMONS BE KEPT OUTi
BELIEF THAT THEY ARE CONTRACT
LABORERS
THE ARRIVAL OF 12o OF THEM BRINGS AN In
TEREsTING QUESTION BEFORE rMu.
GRAFTON OFFICERS.

One hundred and forty converts TO Mormon
ism arrived here yesterday on the steamer Wy
omng from Liverpool, and the appearance Of the
party here brought before the United States I'm.
migration officers at this port the question as to
whether the Mormon problem could be solved
by prohibiting this class of people from landing
In this country, on the ground that they are
contract laborers. Superintendent Milholland, OF
The Federal Inspectors at the Barge Office, has
believed for some time that the general run Of
Mormon immigrants come properly under the
Contract Labor law. and he will soon take steps
to make test case. lie visited Salt Lake City
last fall TO make inquiries in the case and there
learned that the Gentiles believed that the con-
verts who were brought to Utah every year from
Europe were imported under contract to elders
VINO brought them to received them in the
promised land These people are. as a rule. the
lowest KIND of immigrants. and it is not diff
cult thlng TO tempt them to leave their European
homes with the promise or assurance of plenty Of
work here. Arrived at Utah the new converts
receive employment and it would not be unfair
TO draw parallel between them and numerous
bodies of Italian and Hungarian laborers who
have managed TO avoid convctng themselves at
Castle Garden or the Barge Office. and after
ward Hooked to mining regions where contract
laborers known o go.
tnder the recent Yeas Of the administration
OF the decaying State Board no provisions were
adopted to investigate the cases OF Mormon la.
Migrants. Indeed, one Commissioner seemed To
be exceedingly eager to pass them through Castle
Garden and 10 obtain for them special faclities
Tor procuring their baggage and railroad tickets
Hut the intention of the Government officials tere
In charge OF the immig grafton business Is to in.
Nrstlgate this new aspect OF MormOnism as thor
Oughly as they can, which will be In line with
tie progressive policy adopted by Secretary Win.
dom in the Governments discharge of the i'm.
migration business.
Superintendent Weber is now studying the Con.
tract Labor law, 10 whether the law can lie
applied Ia Mormons. If he Is persuaded that il
can be- he VIII enforce il. The MoTmons who
arrived yesterday were released under surveillance
They can be examined again any time within a
year after their landing, and it is probable that
Of their numbers will figure in the test case.
These people Swe,cs and Danes. They were
in char-c of Adolf Anderson and three other
elders. Anderson sharp enough 10 say that
lis iock came mere 10 join friends in Utah, who
would give them work. But inland inspectors cen
readily ascertain whether this kind Of testimony,
which is always given by the elders, is true.
But il is known that Mormon agents in Europe
have already arranged to send 200 converts TO
this country this summer that the Government
will have ample opportunity To find whether these
Immigrants come under the Contract Labor las.
1t is argued that If they do. the Mormon Church
will suffer greatly, if not die ont, because II de.
pends on foreign material for its fresh blood
EX-Inited States Senator Platt said yesterday
he thought that this plan for eAterminating
MOrmonism was one of the best measures proposed
under tie present Administration for the benefit
OF the country.