Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-06-03
nor "UcSTRlCT LABORERs.n

Az emigration commissioner al
New York, who rejoices in the
American (?} ZANE Of Mulhollan !.
has Sc; him-el . the task Of achiev.
ing fame, or al least uotoriety. bv
excluding ''Mormon'' Immigrants
from laniing on the Atlonlic Coast.
His eretext for this IS that they
come under The contract labor,
clause Of the emigration laws.
It is Wen known that the "pauper',
pretence has been tried repeatedly
and signaily failed. Ii hat a fail
hearing is granted on the contract
question it wiz surely meet with
similar fate.
The Lstter-day Saints who c,me
To this country from abroad are not
under any "cont-act'' whatever.
They come with their own means.
OF their own free viii, and for their
own benefit as settlers upon Amer
icsn soil. Some Of them may have
received Contributions from rela.
tIves or friends to help make NJ the
sums necessary TO poy their way.
But when received, that money be-
came their own just as much as
though they had saved e them
selves out Of their earnings. ami
they are not ''assisted emigrauts,;
within the meaning OF the law. nor
are they under any contract to re-
pay it in labor or in any other
way.
When the Perpetual Emigration
Fund was in operation, many YEAR
= ago, people assisted by its funds
~ we're required 30 sign notes fer the
rel ayment Of the means advanced
as soon rs they were able TO return
II, that the funds might be use5
again for the benefit Of other emf
grants. Even that was not in Old.
POSITION to the spirit and meaning
q the law governing emigration to
this country.
But the p. Z. Fund ceased it.
operations years ago. When the
Receiver took possession Of the as
sets, which We're popularity supposed
10 be enormous, they consisted mere,
~ ola safe and n few notes and ac.
count books. The Fund has not fir-
ured IN ''Mormon" emigration for >
long time. Neither goes the Church
advance money in this way. Their,
are no Church means on hand or In
Use for this purpose. The common
idea concerning this is entirely in
correct, and has not as much foup-
da;ion as the notion about the mil |
Hons OF dollars IN the Perpetual En-.
igrati'n fund, for that company did |
have safe and some books and
some outlawed prUmissory notes.
Whatever action may be taken in
rSari TO the company Of Mormon,
Immigrants expected in New YOfl,
To-Day, If the facts are permitted to
appear, as they must in time, it viii
- he clearly established that people
- who come to this land to ioin their
friends in Utah are not ''pauper i'm.
migrants" nor are they under any
labor contraet.'' Neither do they
leave their native lands for any ur-
lawful purpose. Polyeamy has
nothing 70 20 with their emigration.
Faith in God and desire to kee,.
Ills commandments do figure large
~ in their gathering. But ND Il
present date these are not forbidden
by the law, however obnoxious the,
may De to goddess emigration agents
and intidel editors.
In this connection we caution on,
readers rs to c7editiag press account.
OF 'interyiews'' with s.NIormon,,
Elders relative to this matter Ttis
very rare that reporter in IA.
las, givesth language ofhis victim
5 ol''onholed for an item, aud very
rciIen= these interviews are manu-.
iac'ured entirely out of vivid ana
abundant Imagination, the person
aiie.ed to be interviewed having
never given the writer word on
any subject.