1890-06-01-New York Times-Watching for Mormons

Watching for Mormons.

Are They Brought To This Country Under Contract?

There have been reports recently that the Contract Labor Inspectors and Superintendent Weber would make an unusual effort to investigate a company of Mormon emigrants who are expected to arrive here Tuesday by the steamship Wisconsin. It had been said that advices had come from special Federal agents in Utah to the effect that material inducement is offered to converts to Mormonism in Europe to emigrate to this country, and that the bulk of Mormon emigrants who come here are really temporarily owned by the "Elders" who accompany them and by the Mormon Church or its agent. In consequence of these reports, and directly in harmony with the present attitude of the Government toward Mormons, an attempt was expected to prevent the emigrants who are coming on the Wisconsin from landing.

The report of this intended action on the part of the Government officials here reached the ears of several leading Mormons. Yesterday John T. Caine, Delegate to Congress from Utah; George Q. Cannon, a former Delegate and for years a well-known Mormon, and H. Clauson called at Superintendent of Immigrantion Weber's office in regard to the matter. They were informed that there was to be no unusual crusade against the Mormons, but that particular care was to be taken to enforce the contract labor law. Mr. Cannon said, after the interview:

"I was asked to see the Superintendent of Immigration about this matter by a friend who has the contract for the transportation of the Wisconsin passengers, and who was probably afraid, from the reports he had heard, that they would be interfered with. I merely want to say that the Mormon Church was in no way concerned with this emigration, and that no Morman emigrant is induced to come to this country by payment of his passage or by any other assistance. It is true that our emigrants travel in organized companies, but that is merely for convenience sake, and because we believe in organization. Our converts are made abroad by missionaries just like those of any other Church, but instead of inducing them to come to this country, we really urge our missionaries to dissuade them in any way they can. It is not to our advantage to have any come who are not thoroughly grounded in the faith."

Col. Weber said that in looking into the matter of Mormon emigration care would be taken to act only on trustworthy information. As a result of the conference it is probable that no attempt will be made to stop the Wisconsin's passengers further than the usual precautions, but, on the other hand, the Mormons agree that the full name and address of every passenger will be given the inspectors. This will enable the Government to watch the emigrants after they have landed, and if the existence of any illegal contract is found within a year the offending persons will be returned whence they came at the expense of the steamship company. On existing information this is as far as Col.Weber thinks of going at present, although the inspectors are satisfied that many of the Mormons come here under contract and are in hopes of obtaining proof of this fact before long.