The Hawaiian gazette., 1905-08-15
GOVERNOR CALEB WEST
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railroad onicials thought it best to
keep the train moving eastward, for
California was glad to be rid of them.
AS the army neared the Utah line,
Governor West arose to the occasion
and issued an order directed to the
late President Huntington of the
Southern Pacific railway. prohibiting
the railroad company from landing the
men in Utah. He also took up the mat
ter Geographically with the Governor of
Nevada, but the train came on, crossed
the line and steamed on to Ogden,
Utah. Then Governor West called out
the newly organized militia and sent
troops post haste from Salt Lake to
Ogden, and when the "army' arrived
there it was to be encircled by a
Gordon of bayonets. The municipality
of Ogden fed the men and for more
than ten days Governor West kept up
hot correspondence by wire with
Huntington. Finally Huntington came
forward with a proposition TO raise
subscription for the men, so that they
could be provided with means and not
through which they moved, or levy
tribute on the farmers. Huntington
offered to give donation of $500.
This was refused. Governor West per-
sonally went to Ogden and then
formulated a plan to get the "army'
out of Utah. The men were told fin
ally that they could march out OF
Ogden and get out of the territory.
1t was noticed they went eastward,
and on reaching the station at Peter
son, convenient train of box cars was
encountered. The "army' proceeded
to "capture the train and in short
time the hoboes were speeding across
the Utah line into Wyoming. About
this time they were somewhat unruiy
and once a rumor spread that the
Governor had been assassinated. o.
Then another "army was organized
in Salt Lake City. This one really cap
tured Union Pacific train and ran it
| on to the Rio Grande Western Railway
tracks and went to Provo, forty miles
south of Salt Lake. But the Governor
was awake by this time. Troops were
sent there immediately The ringlead-
ers were arrested by force, for they
| put up fight and the troops loaded
ball cartridges into their Springfields.
This was by the Governor order. The
men were taken prisoners, about forty
of them, and they were tried and con-
victed on a charge of theft and sent to
the penitentiary.
When Governor West first went to
Utah as the chief executive in 1856,
the Edmunds act was being rigidly ell.
| hn nnE oil nf ha ar,
Church were being arrested for polyga-
my and sent to the penitentiary. The
open" became filed to overlooking
with the sanity martyrs" and the
situation was getting bad. The Nor
mons raised the question of the con-
stitutionality of the Edmunds Act and
the matter was bitterly fought through
the courts to the Supreme Court of the
United States, that body finally declar.
ing it valid. Governor West endeavor-
ed to placate the feelings of the
"martyrs and he at that time pro-
posed to parole them, on their promise
to observe the laws. Not a man took
advantage of the offer.
The former executive, Governor
| Murray, had a quantity Of arms and
ammunition sent to him and placed un
der his control, and at his request two
companies of the sixth United State,
Infantry from Fort Douglas had beer
encamped in the city. Governor West
turned the arms and ammunition ovel
to the fort commandant and the troops
were also returned to the post.
Then in his second administration
George Q. Cannon, first counsellor OF
the Presidency, who has twice visited
Hawaii, was arrested ON charge OF
being polygamist. He had been il
hiding for sometime or on the Gun
derground Railway as hiding was re
ferred to. He escaped while being
brought to Salt Lake. When Cleveland Z
appointee to the Federal bench Of
Utah, Judge Sanford, came out anC
took office, Cannon surrendered. HI
explained to the Governor that he ha6
been in fear of his life had he surren
dered while the former Judge was in
office 1t was at this time that Cover
nor West went east and had the memor
able conference with President Cleve
land, the fruit of which was the
! Amnesty Proclamation.
Governor West expresses himself a!
well pleased with his visit to Homo
lulu. "Honolulu is a beautiful city,
said he, "and it is certainly place il
which to get complete rest. And thi'
sea-bathing, why its the finest hav,
ever experienced. 1t reminds me mucl
of the bathing in Great Salt Lake il
Utah..
The Governor is reticent concerning
Utah affairs at present. He states that
he has certain views concerning the
conditions there now, but owing to the
position he holds in the government
does not care to express them. He
stated, however, that he knew a great
fight was being waged by the Gentle
papers against the domination of the
Mormon church in politics and business
and was following it with interest. Or
Learning that there was large Nor
mon colony at Laie, Oahu, Governor
West said he might take trip to the
plantation and get in touch with
Bishop Woolley, head of the mission IL
the Hawaiian Islands.
! The distinguished visitor is a Ken
tuckian.