Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-02-21

d
and they are in the majority, do nc
regard the revelation as making poly
gamy obligatory. They consider it a
lie permissive. LOBBY the law, but I d.
rs not acknowledge that did any wroni
l. in entering into polygamy before thu
. law was passed. / provide for all @
my children, and treat them precisely
alike. Since came out OF prison
. have provided for my wives. but
{ have not lived with any Of them.
It am living the life Of a bachelor, and
r sometimes it is pretty hard on an old
s man like me, for I have had n good
: deal Of sickness. and there are times
g when I need home care and attention -
"what will the Idaho Mormons do?
. viii they take the oath and try to
vote' Can they get this question Of
the present position Of the Church be-
fore the Supreme Court"
81 don't know what they will do.
They can take the oath conscientious
ly, but they will probably be prose-
cuted for perjury il they do. Whether
The Idaho courts will continue to stand
on the position taken in the Davis case
1 can't tell. II It is assumed by the
courts that to be a Mormon is to be-
long 10 an organization that encour-
ages polygsmy, then all Of our people
who take the oath will render them
selves liable TO punishment by the
Territorial courts on the charge Of per-
jury. don't know what our people
in Idaho Will do, but I don't think
they will give up the fight. They will
keep trying for their rights. 1t is not
characteristic of the Mormons to give
up. They will fight on-in the courts,
of course"
"win the admission of Idaho fol- |
low the decision sustaining the test |
oath?"
81 can't tell, but 1t looks probable.
There seems 10 be general feeling in |
Congress favorable to the admission Of 4
new States"
"Any other Territory or any State
can, by the adoption Of a similar oath,
disfranchise the Mormonsin
Eyes. The decision is sweeping
enough for any OF them TO stand |
upon"
"DO you think the Idaho precedent
will be adopted elsewheref"
mo. It is not probable. There are
some Mormons in Wyoming, Colo
RADIO. New Mexico and Arizona. They
are recognized as peaceable, industri-
Gus and honest citizens. So far as
can learn there is no disposition TO dis
franchise them generally. In Arizona
law similar 70 that Of Idaho was
passed by the Legislature, but the GOV
ernor yetoedit. had talk the other
day with one Of the most prominent
public men in Colorado. He told me
that the Mormons were well liked in
his State; that they were good citizens.
In one county he mentioned the Nor
mons voted the Republican ticket at
the late election. There is no talk in
Colorado Of Acknowledgement
How about Utah? Don't you think
the idea Of a test oath may be applied
there?"
"Well, that would have to be done
by act Of Congress for Utah. Our peo-
pie are very largely in the majority
here, and control the Territorial Legis- ]
Iature. The test oath could not be in
reduced as it was in Idaho, where
and Democrats united
md put it through the Legislature.
congress could pass a law applying
he test oath to Utah that would put
the entire control Of affairs in the
hands of the non-Mormons. There
are in Utah about 5000 or 5000 non
Aormons, while our people number
1000 or more. Congress could order !
hat the $1,000 should do the yot-
ng and hold the Offices. and that
he 10000 should have no voice
n the Government but pay the
axes. This is possible, but it i.
not probable. 1 think can see a dis
position In both branches of Congress .
lot to legislate further in regard to the $
aormons. There seems to be a feel 4
ng among leading men that the mat \
er is working out gradually, and that I
t had best be left alone. So far as t
'olygamy is concerned there is no call P
or any legislation. Plural marriages $
lave ceased Those Of us. men and b
women. who went into polygamy b
ears ago are dying of. A few years o
viii end that issue" II
"And end the Mormon Church.
oo?- a.
The old man shook his head and re- n
lied:
mo. The Church is stronger today n
han it ever was. We were talking :,
bout the effects of the decision YES
'rday, shortly after we had heard of .
: i remarked that had never seen v
ur meetings so well attended as they o
re now. Our people are frmer in 81
'eir faith than they were before the te
1verse legislation began. We have Il
I'D no schisms and no secessions since q
ie prosecutions began" te