The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-02-21

fered punishment for disobeying the law
rather than to renounce what they re-
garded as one of the cardinal articles Of
their faith.
After speaking for some time, Chairman
Platt asked him if he was not willing to
stop at that point and answer a few ques-
tions which the committee desired to put
to him. The governor replied that he would
the more so as the ground had been so fully
gone over by the gentlemen who had pre-
ceded him. running fire of questions
and answers then followed, the more i'm
portant Of which are herewith given:
Chairman Platt-The condition of things
being as you represent, why did not you
and the people who thought like you ask
for statehood to start with?
Governor West-Simply because of the
distrust that we believed existed and does
exist in the public mind,
Chairman Platt-Is not that distrust an
argument against the bill of which you ask
passages
Governor West-No, sir, think not, be-
cause this bill is designed to meet that
very distrust, and because Congress still
retains its control and power over US.
Senator Carlisle-You can repeal thiss
Governor West-Yes, sir, at any time.
Senator Carlisle-If they admitted Utah
as state the action would be final.
Governor West-Yes, sir. The President
in his message suggested that the fact OF
statehood would not be advisable because
once admitted as state it would be ire
vocable and you would have no remedy.
Chairman Platt-Do you think that
very practical power to leave in the hands
OF Congress in relation to the matters
Governor West-Unquestionably
Chairman Platt-Have you taken into
consideration the fact that the country east
of the Missouri, L will say, is not so we'll
informed as to the conditions of things out
there as you are in Utah and those people
, nearer to you and that you would have to
encounter in the passage of this bill the
same distrust that you would have to en-
counter if you were asking for statehood?
Governor West-Yes, sir. The reason
why we drafted that bill is to meet that
distrust so that they will have no real
5 force in their argument, inasmuch as itdoes
not take the power away from Congress to
9 put US back or pass any restrictive laws.
o 1t does do this, Senator: it opens the
e avenue and the way for US to prove our
n sincerity. If we are allowed no legislation
we will be in two years from now the same
q az we are at present. But mark you, If
: you pass this bill and entrust US with en-
larged power then you can see how we will
use this enlarged power and if not used
/ properly, it can then be Withdrawn.
n Chairman Platt-You agree, L suppose
= and 1 do not use the word in any offensive
g sense, that the Mormon church is probably
r more despotic in its organization than any
e other religious body to-day in the world.
e Governor West have so believed and
t contended.
v Chairman Platt-I mean that they choose
d to do more than any other religious body
;, in the world because the loyalty and al
I legiance of the church members TO its head
: are greater then in any religious DO y.
j. Governor Vest believe how yer, tt
Il the contrary, the contention of l..y Nor
IS mon friends is that it is the most Demo
q cratic organization on the face of the
If earth.
"a Delegate Caine-The control Of the church
e would be confined to religious principles
It and not to political, or financial or civil at
fairs.
Chairman Platt-Would that not depend
h upon whether the leaders were disposed t
confine their influence to religious mat
le tiers!
10 Delegate Caine-The whole theory of thu
10 church is antagonistic to that idea.
10 Chairman Platt-Do you claim that il
% the past the church has not attempted Il
Ia control its members in political matters?
10 Delegate Camel think that individual
u probably have, but l do not think tn
le church, as a church, has. Men may hav
'e used their influence as men, but in all com
~ munities ministers as well as politicians
II and ministers OF all denominations, hav
N gone to the polls and have there handle
Or tickets and used any influence to promot
the interests of their party. The leader
of the Mormon church, however, have no
done that
- Chairman Platt-You don't think tn
~ president and apostles have attempted t
- exercise the power of the church in politi
~ cal matters!
~ Delegate Caine-No, sir, 1 do not think sc
Senator Carlisle-Has there ever bee
~ any church discipline involved against per
~ sons who may have voted contrary to tn
-. interests of the church so far as you know
~ Delegate Caine-No, sir, 1 have neve
known of such case.
% Chairman Platt-I suppose, Governo
;. West, it is hardly discourteous to ask 20
if you ever exercised the veto power fo
any arbitrary reason2
Governor Vest understand and a.
n IN tho
you put it. No, sir; never did. thin
ty myself that Governor Murray's action j
a vetoing that appropriation bill was mi
I'll take. believe, however, that it must hay
It's commended itself to his judgment
n Chairman Platt-Wh enever the governc
M exercises the veto power somebody wi
rs question it.
ne Governor West-Of course, and the vel
ne power at times raises great feeling.
ne Chairman Platt - Tell me, Governt
'oo West, why the people of Utah cannot
ed vide on the lines of the two great partie
en now as well as after the passage of thi
49, act.
~. Governor West-They could do it exec
.s for the existence of the Liberal party.
- Chairman Platt-Do you think the pa
sage of this law will wipe the Liberal par
od cut of existence!
va Cover Vest think the Liberal par
,ie will 90 out of existence in the course of tv
years.
Chairman Platt-Mr. Allen entertains
different opinion.
ne Governor West-Well, think he doe
no but can tell you this, Senator, that the
10 NAV he few prominent gentleman wi
he Iii ,,oo, nm tho liberal nort1 for two