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Show COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. Talks with a reporter on Utah affairs. St. Paul, Oct. 2.-In an interview with ex-Governor Ramsey, chairman Utah Commission, who has just returned from Salt Lake city, he says: The only thing we had to do was to separate the polygamists from the lawful voters, and that we accomplished at a very early day. After the arrival of the Commission the leading polygamists came and said they desired to assure us that they would make no attempt to be registered, nor would they make any attempt to vote, and that they would do all in their power to assist us in a general way. I think they kept their word, in fact, the "Mormons" conducted themselves fairly so far as we could learn. There has been some talk about delay in the work of the Commission, but it will be remembered that the appropriation for our work was not passed by Congress until just before adjournment in August, and we were obliged to await that action. We began work as soon as we could and we have, besides completing the registration, appointed a county register in each of the twenty-four counties in Utah, and selected a register for each voting precinct, making about 600 judges. Now with regard to these appointments. There has been a good deal of nonsense in the papers about the Commission favoring the "Mormons." While there are whole counties where none but "Mormons" reside and as the law intended to make polygamy odious and does not disfranchise non-polygamist "Mormons," we could not do otherwise than do what the law does, recognize that class. So far as the elections are concerned they will of course be carried by the "Mormons." The politics of Utah are not represented in any degree by parties, Republican and Democratic, but by Liberals, composed by the entire anti-"Mormon" class, and the People's party, as the "Mormons" delight to style themselves. Of course the "Mormon" vote, which is at least two and one-half to one "Gentile" will elect a Delegate to Congress, and the polygamists knowing that their man and officers generally will be chosen, can well afford to acquiesce in their own disfranchisement. I heard it said that the present Recorder of Salt Lake city, Mr. Caine, stood a good show for the "Mormon" nomination and election. What will be the general effect of the law as it pertains to elections? It will take pretty nearly all of the first-class and wealthiest men of the "Mormon" Church out of politics and make polygamy odious, especially to the rising generation who will dislike to be disfranchised on arriving at their majority. Old fellows now thrown out will be looked upon by many as martyrs, and in fact so consider themselves already. As far as the general effect is concerned it cannot now be determined what that will be, for it is of course an experiment. Disfranchisement of polygamists will certainly deter ambitious young men from too much marrying. The "Gentile" people hope and desire some legislative commission which shall have full control of the government of the Territory and they claim that under such commission everything will be all right. I found the polygamous element located very largely in most districts among the less intelligent classes. |