Under the Prophet in Utah; the National Menace of a Political Priestcraft by Frank Jenne Cannon;Harvey Jerrold O'Higgins
page 40 of 296 (13%)
page 40 of 296 (13%)
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died of their privations or served their terms of imprisonment--and a
sense of gratitude for leniency would prepare the way for a recession from their present attitude of unconquerable antagonism. He listened gravely, knowing the situation from his own experience in Congress, and checking off the items of my argument with a nod of acceptance that came, often, before I had completed what I had to say. He asked: "Do you know President Cleveland?" I told him that I had seen the President several times but was not known to him. "Well," he said, "I may be able to help you indirectly. I don't care for Cleveland, and I wouldn't ask him for a favor if I were sinking. But tell me what plan you have in your mind, and I'll see if I can't aid you-- through friends." I replied that I hoped to have some man appointed as Chief Justice in Utah who should adopt a less rigorous way of adjudicating upon the cases of polygamists; but that before he was selected--or at least before he knew of his appointment--I wished to talk with him and convert him to the idea that he could begin the solution of "the Mormon question" by having the leaders of the community come into his court and accept sentences that should not be inconsistent with the sovereignty of the law but not unmerciful to the subjects of that sovereignty. "The man you want," Mr. Hewitt said, "is here in New York--Elliot F. Sandford. He's a referee of the Supreme Court of this state--a fine man, great legal ability, courageous, of undoubted integrity. Come to me, tomorrow. I'll introduce you to him." |
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