The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-03-06
JUDD'S ARGUMENT
Before the Congressional Com
mitteeS
ON THE UTAH HOME RULE BILL
He Cites Instances of Misadministration Sup
ported by Official Evidence, and Blames
the System for IL

ported by Official Evidence, and Blsmes
the System for it.
Judge judas speech before the Congress
sional committees in Washington is as fol-
lows:
Mr. Judd-Mr. Chairman, and gentlemen
Of the committee: l congratulate myself
upon being able to appear before so learned
and impartial body as this committee, in
presenting the causes of complaint that we
make. l feel satisfied that you seek none
other than the truth That is ali l have
come here to give you. In August, 1888,
was sent, under commission of the Pres
ident of the United States aud OF the Senate,
TO Utah as one of the associate justices of
the courts of that territory. l carried with
me to Utah, from my state Of Tennessee,
all tue preiudices and hates that had been
engendered against Mormonlsm, intensi-
fed by things that had occurred in my own
state in reference to Mormon leaders and
preachers who had Travelled In that terri
tory. When | arrived in the city of Ogden
l was somewhat astonished to find that the
people who lived there looked like other
people; that they lived in houses, and wore
went about their business, and appeared
not differently from the balance of the peo-
pie had seen in the United Staaes.
The first thing that was said to me (be-
cause, be it known, that whenever a new
official or q new Judge COOS there he has
plenty OF advisers), was, You do not want
to 90 about these Mormons. You do not
want 10 have anything to do with them.
If you do they will deceive you and mis-
lead you"
Wen, that was strange to me, and had it
not been for the fear of being charged with
cowardice, without unpacking my grip l
would have returned to Tennessee, for the
idea of administering justice among peo-
ole could not talk to, associate with, and
be a part Of was an idea 20 my mind so
abhorrent that could not entertain it for
moment
Mr.. Richards, who is sitting there, was
one person against whom l had been es-
pecially warned, and he called at the hotel
10 see me two or three days after l arrived.
l said TO him, ''You look like other people;
what is the matter with you. i have been
told that should not talk with you, that
YOU would deceive me-" The truth is
turned 20 these people and said, Gentle
men, you have all been pursuing too mar
row course here. You have been trying
to get apart instead of trying TO get to-
geJher A broader patriotism and broader
sentiment should have characterized peo-
pie here on both sides of this line, and an
effort TO reconcile affairs and 10 bring each
into harmony with the government, rather
than this effort to keep apart, should have
been made.m
Pursuing that line conscientiously was
assigned to the court at Provo, the first
circuit. l went there, and during the four
teen months that l held that court under
my commission l came in contact with more
of these people, more of them were brought
before me Tor polygamic crimes, than any
other Judge in the territory.
Let me relate my experience, for II is the
experience of actual life and speaks the
facts of the case. l found this state OF
things: The young men and young women
there were as distinct a stratum In thai
society from what was known as the polyg
smiSt stratum as 1t was posi- bic TO be Sepa
rated. That did rot appear generally or
the surface, and l will give you the reason
why il did not: and in that allow me to an
swer a suggestion that has been made 81
often that Utah is dominated by the priest
hood. l went there believing that, but
discovered that the effect was mistaken fo
the cause.
Now to the facts. The Mormon people
when they settled that country out there
settled it with an attempt TO plant upol
American sell civilization of three thou
sand years ago. Their system of priest
hood, for have studied their theology, ami
llGlf SYbItW lEOu IuCiE Onn
reading their own literature, was under
taken TO be patterned after that of the an
Gent Jewish priesthood. and included in il
like the latter, the polygamic relation
When they undertook this thing, of course
in the estimation Of the civilization o
America and of It's laws-the first one be
ing passed, however in 1S62-it became
criminal institution. No one recognize
that more thoroughly than did Brigham
Young, the leader Of the Mormon people
and the Mormon people themselves.
When the Congress of the United State
and the people began their attack upon tina
system the necessary result was to well
those people together to defend that insti
tuition: and ii mad the effect. not only I
draw to its defense those who occupied th
polygamic relation, which was largely tn
priesthood, but being isolated as they wer
there, having settled that country an
claimed it as their own, they brought I
their aid in the defense of that relation tn
whole population of Utah which was MOI
mon, Now that condition of things cor
tinuing and being the constant subject c
attack they brought to bear every mean
of defense which could be summoue
to their command, one of which wa
the political power of the terri
tory. No man would be elected, c
course by Mormons, to an Office who wa
hostile to, or was attacking their institu
ton, and in that shape the political powe
became an incident to their civilization an
the social system; not the cause, but the r,
suit.
Now, 1 studied out this conclusion fo
myself at night by reading their theology
reading their books, talking with th
people, and absolutely getting into thei
civilization with view to arrive at tn
exact condition of things.
began then to talk to the younger me
and the younger women, and to see if
could discover whether there was back {