Show THE QUESTION Go governor west on the reason for ills its conciliatory action IBY telegraph to the new york SALT LAKE U T june 13 1886 A great deal of interest has been taken in N Y herald article relating to governor westa offer ofer ofa of amnesty ninea ty to the saints incarcerated under the edmunds act the governor thinks from the general expression of opinion that his action was a well timed effort in the right direction in utah there has been nu adverse criticism of his action he has been upheld by mormons and gentiles alike I 1 had bad a long conversation with him on the subject today he said after the decision of the supreme court in the lorenzo snow ca cao 0 it occurred to me that tho the legal fight the mormon people had bad been making on polygamy was settled and determined they claimed that war was being made on them by the federal officials because of their religious belief that they were being maliciously maliciously y and nd vindictively pursued and persecuted under the law laly I 1 thought it opportune to let these people know that tb the e only purpose of t this i 8 government tho the only officials flici als was that like other peole ale they should obey the laws of the ho land that there was no desire or r intention on the part of the government or the federal officials to 0 o cause them to suffer in their property aro perty or persons I 1 wished to show them that the government iad had the right to expect them to respect A and obey the laws that they night might know it was hopeless for them to believe anything else would be expected of them HIS ACTION APPROVED V 1 I called upon chief justice zane continued the governor 69 and explained my views to him I 1 bad hi a confor with hin aud prosecuting attorney dickson before taking any action they both both approved of what I 1 proposed doing joing in ray my conversation with judge zane and mr dickson I 1 mentioned the fact that those prisoners had bad been asked in open court if they would promise faithfully to obey the law in relation to polygamy they were told sentence would be suspended inthey if they made such a pledge at the time of conviction however they were surrounded rounded aur by the influence and encouragement of their priests their teachers families and friends they were en cou Dou raged to believe that in refus ing to obey the law they were making themselves heroes and martyrs they had not hen tasted the bitterness of punishment I 1 thought it their circumstances had bad become different some of them had d been incarcerated for months monti they were separated from their families and outside side influences and were feeling the punishment which they had bad incurred by their violation of the laws the mormon people believe th that at the proffer of amnesty was made in good faith and with a desire mohave them to obey the laws lawe they now know they can expect nothing but a vigorous enforcement of the laws in he the future the universal ex of commendation and approval of my action is bringing more clearly and prominently before the people of the country what the mormons have hilve assumed in in refusing obedience to the lawe lawa against polygamy 33 the governor refaced to talk upon the subject of his future policy said he 1 I can can only say that my oath of office requires me to take care that all the laws be faithfull faithfully executed I 1 expect so far nal as I 1 have capacity and ability to perform my duty I 1 prefer that my future acts in IR the administration of affairs shall show rather than ray my words what ray my policy is |