Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-03
UTAH'S FUTURE.
An Ogden Minister Talks of the
Power of MOrmOnism.
Polygamy Still Practiced in the
Territory.

~N--N
George Q. Garrison as Prime Movers
Utah and Statehood.
| CINCINNATI, Aug. 3.-The political sit
uation in Utah Territory is a matter Of
concern, not only to congress, but to al
the people Of the United States. More
than decade has passed by since this
especial field of Mormonism acquired
sufficient population to entitle it to a
membership in the sisterhood Of states,
but Utah still remains under territorial
government, although various schemes
have been propounded in order to make
it into state The Mormons have pro-
fessed to abandon polygamy as an essen
tial feature of their doctrine, but even
that ostensible sacrifice of portion of
their creed has not persuaded congress
to pass an enabling act for the admission
Of Utah as the forty-fi state of the
Union. Just what are the conflicting
elements in the territory and the reasons
why statehood would not at present be
conferred upon it, were explained by
Rev. J. Wesley Hill, pastor of the First
Methodist Episcopal church at Ogden,
in an interview with a reporter.
Pylygamy Still Rampant
"Polygamy," said Mr.. Hill, sis the
cornerstone of the Mormon faith.
While it has, to certain extent, been
threatened with disintegration, it still
remains intact. 1t has received some
hard blows at Ogden and Salt Lake, and
from the fact that the practice has been
abandoned in these large centers of pop
ulation the report has gone forth that it
is extinct This impression has gained
currency and credence from the circum-
stance that at one of the conferences of
the Mormon chnrch, President Wood
ruff issued a manifesto declaring polyg-
amy to be given up The fact is that
the manifesto was sent out purely for
political purposes. The great tide of
immigration pouring into Utah not only
created moral sentiment against polyg-
amy, but it also resulted in the political
dethronement of the Mormon church in
Ogden and Salt Lake. To hold the
church intact and keep the practice of
plural wives well preserved in the rural
districts was the object of this mani
festo.
Divide Between Parties.
"It was also issued for the purpose of
creating a false impression in the east,
and thus preparing the way for state
hood for Utah. The scheme has worked
well thus far, for a large number of
Gentiles in Utah. not particularly con-
cerned about Mormon practices, have
accepted the manifesto as being issued
in good faith, and are now working with
all their power for the admission of the
territory as state. They have united
with the Mormon priesthood and are
using their influence to break down the
old party walls of Utah, which were
represented by the Peoples party and
the Liberal party. For years the con-
flict has ragged between the Liberals,
which is the Gentle faction, and the
Peoples party, which is practically the
Mormon church. Now the attempt is
being made to obliterate the old divi-
sions, and resolve all the issues into
those of national politics.
This has created much enthusiasm
among the Mormon people, and their
priests, according to prearranged plan,
have divided about equally between the
two great national parties, one-half
to the Republicans and the remainder to
the Democrats. Together with the Gen
tile politicians, they are making tours
among the people, urging them to fall
into line and holding forth the long-cov-
eted prize of statehood.
This new work is looked upon with
much alarm by the old and stanch Gen
tiles of the territory. Such men as Fred
Kiesel, the first Gentle mayor Of Og-
den, and Judge Goodwin, editor of The
Salt Lake City Tribune, represent a
large class who declare that the time has
not yet come for statehood, and that
such move would imperil the highest
interests Of Americanism in Utah. To
admit the territory as state now
would leave the political power of the
priesthood unbroken. Mormonism is an
ecclesiastical despotism, and the only
hope of its complete overthrow is in the
absolute downfall Of the priests.
PoIygamy Still Practiced.
1--WE dare not think of statehood until |
the Mormon church absolutely abandons |
the practice of polygamy. This has not |
been done. There are arrests made |
every week Of those gnilty of this crime, |
and the strange thing is that, while the |
Mormon church pretends to be against |
it, none of those who are overtaken in |
their sin are communicated. There !
are many circumstances that point to
the speedy overthrow of Mormonism if |
we held fast to the old political land
marks, but, as it is, the wooden house of |
reformation is full of polygamists. !
Thousands Of people are pouring into |
Utah, and are building up at Ogden one
of the greatest cities of the intermoun-
tain region. They are settling also in |
the rural districts, and it will not be
long until the standards of American
ism are established in Utah never to be |
torn down, and when that is accom-
plished it will be time enough to admit |
Utah as a state"
ITO whom do you attribute the forma-
tion of the Mormon political scheme" |
Mr.. Hill was asked.
"To President Woodruff and to George |
O. Garrison" he answered. They are |
the brains Of the movement.
When do you think Utah will be
ready for admission rs a stateP
''ln about three years, l believe. BY |
that time. with the immigration of |
Gentiles kept up at its present rate, they |
will be in the majority and can conduct
the government. AS it is now they are |
the people of the territory, the Mormons
making up the other two-thlrds, so that !
If we were admitted TO statehood now J
the Mormon church would dominate
everything. That is what the Liberal
party aims to prevent, and trust it will +
succeed in doing So"
Plural Wives Stin Maintained
How do the polygamists manage to
evade the lawT
"They are not numerous in Salt Lake
or in Orden, but what of them there are