Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1892-10-28

strong, of Tempe, the only Democratic
member from Maricopa county. If the
foregoing record shows anything be-
yond what appears upon its face, it
shows by the undue haste OF Mr.. Todd
that the Democratic members were so
DESTROYS of the passage of the bill that
they were willing to dispense with the
usual forms of legislative decency.
So far in the present campaign Demo-
cratic speakers including Ex-Governor
Zulick have made no allusion to the
action OF the Fourteenth legislature.
This is the more singular in view OF the
circumstance that at that session the
obnoxious measure was repealed.
The record presents an interesting
and almost forgotten fact. 1t shows
that both Republican members from
Maricopa county voted for the repeal.
At that time DIR. l.. III. Goodrich repre-
sented Maricopa county in the council
while the county was represented in the
house by Hon. John Y. T. Smith the
present Republican candidate for the
council from this county.
The records OF both sessions placed
side by side show that the obnoxious
and unjust measure was supported by
the Democratic mem bers from this
county and that its repeal was obtained
by the assistance Of both the Republic
can members from Maricopa.
The Democratic speakers and press
have also tauntingly asked why the
Prescott convention made no reference
to the Mormon question, and they have
charged that the absence of any express
sion on that subject was a bait for Nor
mon votes. The charge is too silly to
be denied.
Those Republicans who had sup
ported measure apparently hostile
to Mormon interests did so with honest
convictions. Durisg the time, how
ever, which interviewed between the
session of the Thirteenth Legislature
and the Prescott convention the Repub-
lican party had come to regard the
Mormon population as one Of the most
respectable and law-abiding elements OF
the territory. The revelation of Bishop
Woodruff had quieted all apprehension
OF the need of such a measure as had
been advocated and passed, and all
Mormon prejudice had been effectually
removed. Hence there was no further
need TO introduce the Mormon question
into the deliberations OF the convention.
In fact there was not, there is not now
and there will not likely be in Arizona
an issue known as the Mormon ques-
ton.
What the Republicans of Arizona
have learned about the Mormons in
the last two years is best expressed in
the following clause from the report of
Gov. Thomas of Utah submitted to the
Department of the Interior last lues.
day
do not believe any polygamous marriages
have taken place during the year with the con-
sent or permission OF tho Mormon elders, and
my conviction il that there is a sincere inten.
ton on the part of the Mormon people to disap-
prove OF polygamous marriages in the future.
II is TO be regretted sincerely that a whole peo-
pie wno are seeking TO accomplish great re-
form should be placed under suspicion by the
acts of few, but such is the case.
There was therefore no reason why
reference should have been made at the
Prescott Convention to an extinct Nor
mon question, rather than TO a sup
positions Presbyterian, Catholic or
Methodist question.