Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-02-05
AN EXPLANATION To THE PUBLIC

There have been many communica-
tons OF late in the newspapers concerto
ing Colonel Isaac Trumbo and his af-
fairs. Charges have been made. ema-
mating from various sources, that there
has been some financial connection be-
tween himself and the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1t has
been repeatedly stated in years past.
and the story has been revived OF late.
that Colonel Trumbo has had large
amounts of money in his hands and
under his control belonging to the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints; that he has been its agent in
the expenditure of funds for the ac-
complishment OF certain ends that were
desired to be achieved
We have remained silent upon this
subject. 1t is well known that from
time to time charges are made and
circulated concerning us and our af-
fSirs. which we deem 1t unnecessary
to notice. 1t would be occupying too
much Of our time to be contradlcting
stories which are put in circulation by
one and another for their own purposes.
This feeling has restrained us in the
past In relation to Colonel Trumbo and
his connection with us and our affairs.
But It seems to be proper now. and just
to ourselves. as well as common justice
to him. that we should say something
in relation to the association that has
existed between Colonel Isaac Trumbo
and ourselves as the representatives of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
day Saints.
First OF all, we wish to state most
emphatically that Colonel Trumbo has
not had property of ours in his pos
session for such purposes as alleged.
He has neither been our financial agent,
nor had any control of our property.
We have not entrusted him with
amounts Of money to expend for us for
any such purposes.
In the time of our deep distress, when
bitterness and hatred were manifested
against us in almost every public
quarter, Colonel Isaac Trumbo came to
Utah, and showed interest in our af-
fairs. Some of his own relatives were
involved in cases that were then before
the courts. One prominent connection
of his was consigned TO the peniten-
tiary, on the common charge that was
in vogue against 80 many prominent
Latter-day Saints. The colonels sym
pathies. II seems, were aroused. at least
in behalf of his kinsfolk. This caused
him to take interest in the whole ques-
ton; and this interest absorbed him to
n hnt ha xyft fro
profitable business that he had at the
time In San Francisco, and devoted
himself almost exclusively to the labor
of correcting the false impressions
which prevailed and to the enlistment
of the press in the correction. of the
many falsehoods and asperslons which
We're In circulation; and afterwards,
on wider field, using his influence
with leading men of the nation. We
may say here that Colonel Isaac Trum-
DO is n man of extraordinary energy.
When he undertakes anything that he
thinks ought to be done. he is untiring
in his efforts to accomplish 1t. These
characteristics were wonderfully illus
trated in the labors which he took upon
himself In behalf 90 he maligned and
misrepresented Latter-day Saints. Be-
ing n man of means, he was able to
travel from place to place, and especial
ly to visit and sustain himself at
Washington. We can never forget his
activity in visiting editors and using
his influence to correct public
opinion through the press. No
man could have displayed great
er zeal and Observation-Disclosures than
he did in the labors that he took upon
himself. We felt that he was inspired;
for. not being member of our religious
organization. and having no financial
muneratlve 10 him, there was nothing
TO incite him to these extraordinary ex-
ertions except purely philanthropic
desire to defend an oppressed and I'M
popular people and to roll back the tide
of calumny and evil that threatened to
overwhelm them. We felt thankful
many times for the kind Providence
which raised him up: for he seemed to
come to our aid at time when a man
in his position and with his indefatiga-
BILE energy was especially needed.
When the Mormon people We're
threatened with Acknowledgement Col.
Trumbo spent considerable time in
Washington, exerting himself to the
utmost of his ability to defeat that in
famous measure. And while there were
other agencies also at work for every
one that had any influence In the com
munity realized how necessary II was
that this measure should be defeated),
still Colonel Isaac Trumbo was the
means of bringing powerful influences
TO bear against the enactment OF that
villainous bill. In the defeat OF that
proposed legislation every member of
our Church had cause TO be deeply
grateful to the Lord and to the instru-
ments which, under Him, We're the
means of bringing II to naught.
With the same zeal and devotedness
he worked untiringly to obtain the am
nesty; and also afterwards in securing
the return of the personal property to
the Church. and in preparing the way
for the return OF the real estate,
lie threw himself into the accom-