The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-11-02

The announcement in yesterdays
papers that President George Q. Can
non had admitted having used in the
Box Elder stake conference the Ian
guage attacking Judge Powers, after
having absolutely denied it and called
upon several witnesses TO testify with
him, created profound sensation on
the streets yesterday. 1t was the
great topic of conversation. Political
circles heard of nothing else. Specula-
ton was rife.
<cIhere is some misunderstanding, how
Ever, about the full scope of Mr.. Can
mons remarks and The Herald cor
respondent, who was detailed to inves-
tigate the matter in Brigham City,
gives the correct version of the mat
ter taken from number of affidavits
in his possession and interviews had
with prominent men.
1t appears that on Monday, when the
stenographer, who had been present
on Sunday, was not present, President
Cannon spoke somewhat extensively
q the subject of municipal government
and like matters bordering on politics.
In the course of his remarks he spoke
of the deplorable condition of Salt
Lake City financially and otherwise,
and explained this by saying that men
had been put in office who were not
fit for the positions. It was while on
this line that he made the remark at
tributed to him. The statement of Mr.
Lars Jensen, clerk of the confer
ence. gives the matter substantially
correct and is as follows:
The Clerks Statement.
President Cannon was speaking of
the deplorable condition Of Salt Lake
City on account of men being in Office
who were not fit for their positions
He said, as nearly as I can recollect,
One man was paid $4,000 for stealing
Salt Lake and now he is at the head of
Another organization Just there he
said something else, but 1 did not catch
it, as I was interrupted by Seymour
B. Young, who sat on the stand and
interrupted in an undertone that could
be heard by all on the stand. saying,
else a little later President Cannon
said Now this man has troops men
and women follwing him. It struck me
at the time that he was referring to
Judge Powers.
The part missed by the clerk be-
cause of the interruption of Seymour
B. Young, which was not heard by the
audience. is supplied by Mr.. S. n.
Cook and affidavit makers of Brig
ham, who Say President Cannon said
Il wonder what he is going to steal
hPw?"
Zone affidavit maker has a still more
specific report as to the beginning of
the remark. He says President Can
non said: II have heard. and, as it
ha-s never been contradicted L suppose
N,ts true, thai certain gentleman"
Several with whom The Herald re-
porter talked said that the speaker
spoke something about the Modern
Moses" who was leading troops of wo-
men and children. One very high
churchman says the speaker said
They claim 1000 women will follow
them On this latter point, however,
il is somewhat difficult to secure an ac-
curate report. 1t seemed as though
every man in the house, however,
caught the remark about the $4,000.
Each was positive as to the wording
and each declared that the instant
it was made he received the impression
that it was meant as an attack on
Judge Powers. The impression it
made was well illustrated by the in
Simultaneous seizure upon it by Sey-
v,oo11r n Young and his 1err1a in
line VITA it.
L was further stated that President
Cannon spoke slowly and in his usual
careful, deliberate way, seemingly
weighing every word.
The attitude Of the Tribune. con-
ceding the justice of the position of
Judge Powers and practically conced-
ing the whole Democratic party. was
another fruitful source of surprise and
astonishment The following leading
editorial was in yesterdays issue:
"The George @. Cannon Business.
Night before last Judge Powers, in a
speech, read dispatches from the north,
stating that in a sermon President
George G. Cannon had referred to
someone who had received $4,000 for
stealing this city, that he is now at
the head of q great political party. and
commented upon it. A Tribune reporter
found Mr.. Cannon and received from
him a positive denial that he ever used
such language or even thought of
Judge Powers while speaking
Yesterday, when surrounded by some
Of the persons who were with him and
head his sermon, he denied again and
appealed to them to corroborate his
statement. They told him ne had
spoken that way, and then Mr.. Cannon
SAID # they said he had made such
settlement it must be true. but that he