The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-04-24
Platt Denies He Said He Favored
Usah'S Admission.
HIS TELEGRAM TO JUDGE ZANE
Two Members ofthe Senate Foreign Commit
tee Say the Chairman Did Make the Re-
marks Attributed to Him.
HERALD BUREAU,
ALI.ALD BUREAU,
Corner 10th and @ Streets, n. w.
WAsHINGToN. d. c.. April %.


coming presidential election. His remark
also included the denial which the Salt
Lake Tribune makes this morning that he
had ever said anything Of the kind. "a
gentleman came TO me yesterday" said he,
with telegram. 1t stated, as 1 remem-
Der, that the SALT LAKE HERALD had dis
patch quoting me as being favorable to
statehood, and as criucising Governor
Thomas. l said to the gentleman that 1
had never made any remark regarding
either statehood or the governor that could
be so construed, and that was all that L did
say"
II was told, Senator Platt'' said I, THAT
you had said you would have no objection
to Oklahoma, Utah, New Mexico and Ari-
zona coming in as states after the presi-
Dental election. My informant was g
member of the committee who could have
no purpose in misleading me or in mis-
quoting you"
81 am not prepared either to affirm or
deny what takes place in the privacy Of the
committee ROOM" was the Senator's eva
sive reply.
"Then," said, ''if that is the case, why
do you deny that you expressed yourself as
favorable to statehood"
~ must repeat said the Senator, ''that
1 cannot talk about matters which come up
in the executive sessions of the committee.
l have no hesitancy in saying that these
territories ought to come in as states as
soon as they can fulfill all the conditions of
statehood. But don't for heavens sake
get me into the trouble that Prof Eliot
is in for what he said about Utah
and the Mormons. There has been
undoubtedly great change in the situation
of affairs in Utah. l have no DOUBT Of that
from what 1 have been told; but the peo-
pie of the country dent know it, and we
can't outrage public sentiment by acting
to hasi y"
81 am also told" said, 'that you deny
having telegraphed Judge Zane about this
board OF managers
The Senator replied: "You are mistaken
II you said that"
what did you telegraph him?'' I asked
al telegraphed him for information re-
garding the Worlds fair bill; whether or
not we ought to pass it, etc. etc. l also
telegraphed other gentlemen in Salt Lake
to the same effect. 1 have great confidence
in Judge Zane. He has been in the terri
tory long time, and l should be strongly
influenced by anything he might say.
asked him to write me his views regarding
the matter.
"And you say you did not criticise Gov
ernor Thomas for his veto of the territorial
bill.'
II did not"
What have given is fair summary of
my talk with Senator Platt at the Airing
ton hotel tonight. 1t is only fair, under
the circumstances, To make his denial as
public as was the original statement which
1 telegraphed about him. But the Sena-
tors denial doesn't settle the matter bv
any means. My informant, as 1 told him.
was a member of the committee and a
member Of the highest standing. He could
not, as told Senator Plat, have any pur-
pose IN misquoting him, and 1 am entirely
satisfied that he did not.
After leaving Senator Plat, I called on
the gentleman and told him what the Con-
necticut Senator had said. He smiled
good naturally and said: "But he did say
it; he said everything you have quoted
him as saying. Ii came about in this way.
Senator Faulkner wanted to take I'D the
Home Rule bill. Re is, as you know, an ar
dent supporter of the measure. Jones,
Of Arkansas, objected. You know also.
that Jones is opposed to the bill and viii d.
all he can to defeat il, both in the commit
tee and on the floor of the Senate. Well.
as l say, Jones objected to considering the
bill at this time. He went on to say that
HI nj frff
bill was faulty, and that we ought not to
give one form of government to Utah
which we were not willing to give to other
territories. Then it was that Senator
Plstt took part in the con-
Fersation. There was no occasion.
he said, for immediate haste and he
added, that after the Presidential elections
next autumn, he saw no good reason why
Utah, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona
should not be given statehood. [ am
certain he said this. 1 could not be
mistaken regarding it. l can't help what
Senator Platt says. He may have spoken
the words carelessly, and was not cogniz-
ant of what he was saying, but he certainly
did say just what have told you"
'sHe also denies," 1 said, "having tele-
grapned Judge Zane about the board of
managers"
II don't know what he may have done
subsequently to our adjournment, but L 90
know in the committee room he spoke of
telegraphing Judge Zane upon that point.
In fact, at one time the suggestion was
made, either by himself or some of the
others present Il am not certain whom)
that Judge Zane and Governor Thomas be
added TO the number. Nothing was said at
the time about telegraphing Judge Zane or
any other gentleman whether or not the
committee should pass the bill.
''You say MIR. Platt seys he didn't do
this: May be he did not, but that certainly
was his intention when L spoke with him.,
s'What about the Senator's denial that he
shared in the criticism of Governor
Thomas veto Of the bill7'
at is barely possible" my friend re-
piled, "that 1 was mistaken upon that
point The criticism was very general and
Republicans as well as Democrats freely
condemn what they regarded as an arbi
trary act on the part Of the governor. NV
remembrance is that the chairman spoke ne
freely regarding the matter as the rest of
us.''
THE HERALD correspondent wishes to