The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-04-27
ARTHUR l. THOMAS,
Governor of the Territory of
Utah FavOrs
DIsFRANCHIsING THE MoRMoNs
He Gets Chairman Struble 70 Make the An
nouncement for Him-Saunders' Position
The Ogden Bill.

"AohlN0IoN, April 26.-lSpeclal tele-
gram to The HERALD. I'm the House com.
mlttee on territories this morning Judge
Jerry Wilson made powerful argument
against the Mormon disfranchisement bill
He gave a history of the anti Mormon
Legislation from 1862 to the present time.
showing that the object and intent was to
suppress polygamy and not to interfere
with the faith or religious opinions of mem
pers OF the Mormon church He said the
present measure, stripped of its serpentine
verolage, was simply bill to disfranchise
allthe members of that church. Delegate Du-
ools admitted that such was the intention.
linen, "sald Mr.. Wilson, ''you should amend
tne Dill by striking all out after the enact
ing clause and insert I" That no member of
the Mormon church shall hereafter hold
once or serve as juror" He then pro-
ceeoed, and for nearly an hour punctured
the proposition from every possible stand
point, showing that il was contrary to the
genus OF our American institutions. I'M
necessary and unwise The Judge showed
that even II Mormon took the prescribed
test oath there was no provision which
gave him right to vote. If he voted he
was liable to be arrested for perjury. tried
and convicted by jury of his
enemies, and he had no recourse. He sup-
gested in the event that the committee
should conclude to report the bill favorably,
mat provision should be inserted that if
any voter was convicted of perjury he
should have the right to appeal to the
supreme court of the United States. said
court to be given jurisdiction to hear
and determine all such appeals.
Chairman Struble, before Judge Wilson
had concluded his argument, announced
that ex-senator Saunders. of the Utah
commission, was present and he wished to
give him few minutes time. The
chairman also said: 81 am requested by
Governor Thomas to say in reply to Dele
gate Gaines remarks at the previous meet
ing, that while he is not here for this mr.
pose, but in behalf of public building bill.
he is IN hearty sympathy with this meas
ure and earnestly desires its PASSAGE
Commissioner Saunders then addressed
the committee. Upon being asked if he
favored this measure after evading the
question two or three times and confessinp
his lack of familiarity with it, Mr.. Springer
asked him: do you endorse a measure tn
disfranchise every member of the Mormon
church.n
He answered that in his opinion this
would not do so.
Delegate Game then nailed the question
down: "Do you give your official endorse
ment to measure to disfranchise me and
every other member of the Mormon church
merely for our beliefg'
Saunders answered s'No.n Then after q
few moments of hesitation he said: ~ am
opposed to polygamy; and if this would
aoollsh 1t do not know but would favor
It," He said further: 81 felt very hone
full at one time that further legislation
would not be necessary to accomplish the
work we have in view out there because
we were led to believe that many of the
stronger Mornons were ready to split nm
their party and vote at the election. We
afterwards learned The did not state howl
that they all voted solid and that not one of
them voted with us''
Delegate Game interposed: SIS il then
because they would not vote with You that
you are anxious to have them all disfran-
chished?n
AT TINS point Chairman Struble had the
committee adjourned, it being very evident
that Senator Saunders was not affordinp
much aid to the cause of disfranchisement
Governor Thomas did not appear before the
committee, as he had threatened to do. but
had very judiciously sent his message by
Chairman Struble. The committee meet
again Monday to consider the bill.