Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-05-17
TIE NEW EDNUNDS BILL.


as an Indication that the disfran-
cbisement measure may not pass.
The monstrous character Of the lat
ter. the enormity of the injustice
which il would work, and the vio-
Ience Of its clashing with many vital
principles of the American system
Of government, have become so APP
parent during the time it has been
under discussion in Congress, and
by the press and public, that strong
probability of the retreat of its cham
pions has arisen.
The Stguble bill is unspeak-
ably bad, but it is scarcely any
worse than the latest one fathered by
Senator Edmunds, but in reality
the work of a small clique of
Utah conspirators. What the Struble
bill aims TO do in brazen defiance of
the Constitution, and every scruple
Of right or justice, this new concoc-
ton seeks to accomplish by indirec-
ton. IL makes all county and Terri
tOrial officers appointive. True, in
the Geographic synopsis Of the bill
which appears in another column,
sheriffs and coroners are not named,
but they probably appear IN the
text, as the evident object is to
place the county governments COM
pletely in the hands of the appoint
Ing power.
Thus the only officers left for the
people to choose are members of the
Legislature, justices Of the peace,
and fence viewers. Authority is
given to board of seven, comprised
of the Governor, Secretary, and mem
bers Of the Utah Commission, to
re-district the Territory, and We
all know what this means. Itsigni-
fies that from a party which en-
braces only twenty per cent of the
total population of the Territory, a
msjOrity Of the members Of the
Legislature is to be chosen, by means
Of the "shoe string'' process Of
creating legislative districts. Thus
the people, in the true sense Of the
term, will have the privilege Of
electing only the officers whose
duty it Is to sell estray animals, and
TO ascertain if the requisite number
Of poles or wires have been used in
the construction Of n fence.
Such wretched fragments of popu-
lar government as would be left to
the people Of this Territory under
the new Thomas Edmunds bill,
would hut augment the wrong
Of its enactment. That bill would
produce actual, literal disfrauchise-
ment Of an abominable form,
while THEORETICALLY pretending to
do nothing of the kind. If il be
urged that all political classes are
treated alike, in taking from the
voters and giving to the appointing
power the right TO name the officers,
the answer is that one class will be
PARTLY compensated by having
chosen from its members, all office
holders Of every description. while
the other class viii be deprived of
vote, voice and representation it
the governmental the Territory and
its counties though numbering near
Iy or quite four fifths of the total
population
This feathery compensation
amounts 10 nothing, however, by
the side Of the political abasement
that would ensue to ali classes. The
only benefits, if they could he so
called, would accrue to individuals
who would be in direct favor with
the appointing power. There is
nothing can compensate for the des-
truetiSn Of the right OF the citizen to
n voice in the selection Of the rulers.
No American citizen Of this Terri
tory, worthy the name viii, without
protest. submit to an indignity and
robbery so gross and unqualified.
Such a supine attitude would be a
taeit surrender of manhood. If this
attack upon constitutional
and Republican form of govern
ment guaranteed to the peo-
pie is accepted and not op-
posed by the Gentiles Of Utah, then
shall it soon come to a realization
that the ''Mormons'' are the only
genuine supporters Of the organic |
law OF the nation.
This new measure bearing Mr..
Eimunds' name is substantially |
identical with provisions that were |
embraced in the Edmunds-Tucker
bill as it passed the House. But |
Senator Edmunds, who was a
member Of the conference commit |
tee, insisted on striking them out, |
and in response to his influence
they were eliminated from the bill |
before its final passage. The os-
tensible reason for this action, the
wrong of placing the Territory so
completely under the thumb of one
man, vas a sound one. but the SEN
ator's present attitude, would indi-
cate that he has undergone a change
of heart.
The Utah Commission is, by this
bill, given power to order new
registration instead of a revision.
and, In connection with the Gov
ernOr and Secretary, may make and
enforce such rules and regulations
relative TO registration and election
matters. as they may see fit, con-
sistent with the laws OF the United
States. If the synopsis gives cor
rectly the substance Of this latter
feature Of the bill, it virtually re-
peals the election laws Of the Terri
tory, and delegates to the Governor,
Secretary and Utah Commission |
power to establish legislation in lieu
thereof.
Thus into the bands of these seven
men is given the power to control,
legislatively and enthusiastically,
all elections in this Territory, and
10 choose all the Territorial and
county officers. True, an election
would not, under this bill, amount
TO much, and the privilege Of par
ffcinatiro ., :. ,---,.ga -. = II