Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-10

land which was set aside for the church
also increased in value"'
the time the government confiscated your
did you not?"
YES" replied the president 1--WE had
at this time about 500, 600 worth Of such
ferings of the rich and poor alike. The
government agents claimed right to 1t
and they took all of our cattle and sheep.
Under the Mormons the stock was doing
well. but the government agents could
not manage 1t. They had to sell it. and it
brought very little. This was a direct
loss to the church, for the value of the
stock was never refunded. At this same
time the government took about $4,000
worth Of the personal property of the
church. This was returned. however;
charged us $4,000 a year rent for them,
We were oppressed in other ways. but I
trust that such actions are now done away
with forever.
How about polygamy? Is 1t not still
secretly practiced?'
mo. not in any shape. The church does
not recognize 1t. and the man who would
so live would be acting in violation of
church discipline. The manifesto issued by
the church some years ago absolutely for
bids the practice of polygamy."
'Wfll 1t ever be practiced again?'
II do not know. I think not
But you had more than one wife, Presi-
dent Woodruff. had you not?'
Eyes. I had three. One is dead. The
other two are alive. I live, Of course. only
with one"
'How about the other?"
II support her, Of course" was the en-
phatic reply. II would be less than human
If did not. My wives were all good wives
to me. They are now old women, as l am
an old man. and would be brute If
did not take care Of Them
rs this the case with other Mormons
who were polygamiStS?'
Yes. it is so with nearly every one
Shortly after the passage Of the Edmunds
law forbidding the practice of polygamy
there was great deal of talk as to what
was to become Of the so-called abandoned
wives. and Congress was induced to ap-
propriate $5OOOOO to build a home for them
l believe the institution never had but one
family. and that this was gotten at the
special request of the officers"
suppose they were afraid they would
lose their job If they had none." said 1.
Il do not know to that" was the re-
ply. II only know that they did not have
any applications. and that there was no
reason for establishing such an institu-
ton. The Mormon Church is amply able
ask charity. 1t takes care of its own poor
we'll" 49,
Stories Of Brigham Young.
1 here asked Mr. Woodruff to tell me
something about Brigham Young He was
you know. associated with the prophet dur
Ing the whole of his career. Mr.. Woodruff
replied:
II was with Brigham Young when he
first entered this valley Of Salt Lake He
rode INTO the valley in my wagon. He was
not well at the time and my vehicle which
| for him than the ordinary wagon When
| he first came here he was met by a Nor
mon from California, who wanted him to
go further west. Brigham Young refused.
a M a no f1,1
Here l will found a great city and will
| build up q home for our people, Brigham
Young was broad-gauge man. He was
far-sighted. and he laid out his schemes
| nacle. 1t will hold 10000 people. Still it
was built when the church was very small,
| and Brigham Young was criticised at the
| time for.its Size He said that the church
the case. Take the temple which we have
been forty years in building. Brigham
| Young designed the plan for It, He laid
| out the Salt Lake City of today, and he
| evidently saw fifty years ago that this
town was to be one of the greatest cities
| of the United States. He organized oul
farming regions in the same way. He was
| the first to investigate the possibilities of
| irrigation for this country and he may be
| called the father Of the irrigation system
| of the United States. He urged US to own
our own farms and the following out of his
| suggestions has made our people the most
| Independent on EARTH
'Was Brigham Young a man Of any edu
| cation?" 1 asked.
mot IN the sense of being college bred =
replied Mr. Woodruff. HE was, however
educated in the school of experience. H
had wonderfully receptive mind and he
seemed to grasp things by intuition. tax
ing them in whole and in detail. He
| appreciated the advantages Of education
| and established schools and universities
He was great a planner. great as ar
| organizer and great as an executive. HI
was not narrow in any respect. He be
lieved in amusements, and while Salt Lake
| was still a village he built here one of tn,
| biggest theateTs Of the United States. HI
| organized the tabernacle choir, which nov
has GOO members and which Is one of tn
finest choirs of the country. He was. IL
fact, an all-around great man, and h
would have been great in any place or ii
any time. FRANK G. CARPENTER.