Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-04-25
THE THoMAs-wEST EXPOSURE.

some comments upon the conduC
OF the two agents in Washington {
the Salt Lake Chamber Of Com
Governor a. L. Thomas an
Hon. c. w. West. The article wa
melted by the incidental exposur
of the sneaking perfidy Of Nj
Thomas, exhibited before the Hous
Committee on Territories on Wed
nesday. 1t seems necessary L
make further allusion TO the subject
and in order that no injustice maj
be done to any of the parties it il
proper to place a review OF the mat
ter before our readers and leav,
them to judge Of the merits Of the
controversy. This method is also
suggested as the best mode Of treat
ment, that Lhe record Of rascality
made by prominent political dema-
gogues and self-seekers may he pre-
served, and that examples OF
double-dealing dishonesty may prove
a warning to future generations.
Arthur l.. Thomas and Caleb w.
West are the authorized agents Of the
Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce.
The former was paid $500 by that
body to repair to Washington and
labor in behalf of the movement TO
secure a liberal appropriation for a
suitable government building to be
erected here, and to secure q portion
of the Fort Douglas Reservation for
a public park. Mr.. West is the
president of the Chamber ami re-
ceives a salary, being n paid officer.
That there may be no mis-" Ike about
these gentlemen being TIE autho-
rized agents of the association
named, We here quote from a set Of
resolutions passed by it few days
ago in relation to the Worlds Fair.
"Be It resoIred further, That copies
Of the foregoing be sent to Governor
A. L. Thomas and Hon. c. W. West,
now representing the Salt Lake Cham
Der Of Commerce At Washington, DC,
whose support will assist Us in carry
ing out the purposes OF these nesolu-
tons, and request their concurrence
and cooperation therein"
When the report was published
in this city that Nessrs. Thomas and
West We're using the influence and
money Of the Chamber of Com
merce, which claims to be non
partisan, to urge the passage Of Jegis-
tation that would disfranchise num-
bers Of its members, there was
something akin to a sensation in the
community, the commercial organ
ization being specially agitated re-
garding it. The "Liberal'' organ
came to the rescue, as follows:
Yesterday It the Herald7 had
purported rumor from Washington.
charging that Governor Thomas and
West We're. under the
guise Of speaking for the Chamber and
in the employ Of the Chamber, trying
TO influence legislation against the
It amounted TO very little in I
the Herald, but when the NEWS last
evening echoed the same thing
and gravely asserted that the 1
matter should be investigated,
that was proof that behind
the Herald tho News and the
chiefs Of the creed have determined if {
possible 70 prevent any Mormons from /
joining the Chamber. Il Is cR1ugh 10 /
sag that aside from The inlDoss.bili,y
Of Goucr8or Thomas and cr-Govergi0r /
West dong any such tang, tic rules Of |
the chaniber, trsied hare ucrer Tor one |
moment relaoea, explicitly forbid aay /
reference 70 politics or any political 4
irOrE. These gentlemen are in Wash !
ington for specific purpose. and tina. |
purpose is TO enhance the business OF |
this city by having a grand public 1
building provided for. and to try to /
have the unsightly west side Of the
reservation converted into a
delightful resort for this people. and /
he mere fltimation II tier 5etraVng
heir trust IS an insult ,ckieh their ,rhole |
past liUes are a gr0tcs, against. The
lttack upon them is as cowardly as It
s false"
1t viii be observed that the chief
snti-"MOrmon" organ asserts in
fleet that if the two individuals
to did 'infiuenee Iegisla-
ion against the Ssints,'' they were
;uilty of ''betraying their trust. -
md, logically, Of a dastardly piece
'finfamy.
In consequence Of the reports and
general sentiment on the subject.
he directors Of the Chamber Of
commerce, a week ago today. tele- ,
,raphed TO its two authorized agents
o the effect that the NEWS and ;
terald had charged them with
influencing the legislation referred I
D. Whether the Chamber did if
Intentionally or not we are not pre-
AIRED TO say, but it is a fact that 3
misrepresented this journal.
'hich made no direct charge, the
blowing being the language used:
at is currently reported and widely Z
elieved here that Caleb W. West is h
secretly in Washington in v
lie furtherance Of pending Congress
onal legislation for the disfranchise- 2
lent OF all members OF the Church of =,
ssus Christ Of Latter-day Saints" 4
In another part Of the article we 1
ated that We gave the parties the
enefit of the DOUBT, and insisted b
lat the rumor should not be taken v
conclusive until proof was exhib- .
ed. As the report turns out to be "
Ie, however, this is Of but little ;;
oment, except that it gave this
per the appearance of pronounc- +,
g unqualified Judgment prema- II
rely, when such was not the case Fl
So far as We know, the two gentle y
enaddressed made no directreplyto al
edirectory oftheChamber, but used v
e chief anti-''Mormon'' organ as p
cir shute through which to con- =
y their reply, the following ap- :.
airing in its issue OF last Saturday, n
lbodied in long special from its q,
Washington Bureau:''
The attention q Governor Thomas re
d Ex-Governor West having been
lied today to the statements pub IN