The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-07-03
Michigan Governor Vigorously De-
nOunces Newspaper Men.
THINGS HE NEVER SAID
AN ALLEGED INTERVIEW RE-
GARDING M'KINLEY.
Report That He Criticised and De-
nounced the Administration I'm
true-States His Position In Re
gard to the Alger Combination
Roasts Burrows and Mcmillan.

OelIOlI, MICH, july 2.-GOVernOr Pin
gree tonight dispatched a letter to
Secretary Alger, brought out by criti-
cisms of the secretary and numerous
comments recently published concern
ing the agreement made by the gov
ernor to support the secretary in his
campaign for the United States SEN
4 atorshlp. The letter is as follows:
My Dear General:-I subscribe to a
| Clipping bureau and have, within the
past few days been receiving large
numbers Of clippings from newspapers
published in every part of the country
containing what purports to be an in
terVleW with me in which criticisms
of the present administration are put in
my mouth. l am astonished at the cir
culatlon and credence which this al
legged interview has received. l would
not take cogniZance of it, were il not
Tor the fact that it seems to have been
so widely circulated and also for the
reason that there are many people who
nave yet to learn that what is termed
political news and opinion are as I'M
reliable, inaccurate and prejudiced as
the newspaper mans ingenuity and
cunning can make them.
1t did not seem to me necessary TO
deny the interview. l would not now
give it any thought whatever, We're it
not for the fact that it is made the
basis of a petty and mean spirited at
tack upon you, which is, however, but a
natural product of small calibre intel
lects.
Was Fabrication.
The interview to which 1 have re-
ferred is pure fabrication. There is
not single sentence in it which was
spoken by me. 1t is the invention of a
reporter who may or may not have been
acting under instructions from his
chief.
I have at different times expressed
my opinion of the necessity for the war
in the Philippines. L have, in common
with thousands of others in the coun-
try, disapproved of it and have had
no hesitation in giving my views when
ever have been asked for them
voted for Mr.. Mckinley and L have
had no cause whatever to regret it, If
he is a candidate again, L will take
pleasure in giving him my support.
1t has always seemed to be that
the criticism by New Yorw newspapers
OF the management of the war depart
ment has amounted to a condemnation
not only of the president, but of the
entire cabinet. 1t is well known that
no important step is taken without the
concurrence, or at least the advice of
the president and the cabinet l am
well satisfied that the attack upon the
war department is nothing but a cum
nlngly conceived plot to create d |
vacancy to be filled by a New York |
politician. Already New York news |
papers are discussing the distribution |
of the patronage of the department. |
The other papers of the country have !
simply repeated what the New York |
newspapers have said.
of course, it is not surprising that j
Near0 = IN Ii.
Senator Burrows, have Joined in the
scheme to discredit and
defame the war department.
Made No Alliance.
Insofar as the alleged alliance
with you is concerned, can freely and
frankly say that none has been made.
AS you are already aware, 1 simply
proffered you my support in your
for United States senator
and only wanted to know whether you
were in favor of an amendment to the
of the United States per-
hitting the election of United States
senator's by direct vote OF the people
was glad to be advised by you that
you favored the restriction Of trusts
)ut neither of these things was made
he condition of my support. In COM
non with thousands of other Michigan
people l merely offered to assist you.
{ anything, L have profited by it politi-
ally, because the American people de-
est cowardly methods of fighting,
The language which is attributed to
ne in the false interview. in which 1 !
m made to criticise and abuse the ad- ]
should have condemned | :
he interviews as a fabrication at once.
tut even more absurd is the statement | ]
lade by the press that l was an
vowed candidate for the Republican !
omination for president at the next
atiOnal convention; that YOU have
lade an alliance with me, and that. 9
therefore,. you have practically declared i
our opposition to President Mckinley I
nd should retire from his cabinet. OF
curse, such a statement is too silly
} be entitled to serious attention 1t
sufficient to say TO you that 1 have
OF and never did entertain the re-
lotes- intention of becoming a can !
date for the presidency. The story
only another invention of Michigan
ewspapers. ?
Scores the Newspapers. I
4 think the time is not far distant r
hen public opinion will compel news q q
lpers to be fair and decent in their G
of men in public life. Until
does, 1 am convinced that the only ];
,urse to pursue is to ignore their ma !
;ious attacks. Attempts to correct +
eir reports only result in provoking u
ore liberal outpouring of editorial a
nom. After all, it is well to re- e
ember that newspaper represents
e opinion of only one man, and that
Union is undoubtedly influenced by
cry motive except a desire to do full
stice. The time is not far distant U
hen the people will awake to this
ct, and when they do there will be a
dical change in the policy of conduct
g the newspapers OF the country, es- II
cially in their treatment of public fc
en-. Tt
Up aoratfipo | a