The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-06
U|NTAH HEARD FROM
County Is Able to Subjugate the
Strip.
ATTORNEY GABLES REPLY
ROASTS MAJOR GUILFoYLE AND
INSPECTOR GRAVES.
Says Reports of Lawlessness Are
Greatly Exaggerated = Military
Authorities Would Not Cooperate
Local Authorities Can Enforce
the Laws.

Local Authorities Can Enforce
the Laws.
On the 26th of May Governor Wells
sent letter to c. F. Gable, county at
torney of Uintah county. calling his
attention to the lawless condition ex-
listing in the strip" near Fort Du-
chesne. The governor quotes govern
ment reports on the subject in which
it is said: THE local authorities seem
powerless, through poverty or fear
probably, TO cope with the matter
This Governor Wells considers a dis
tinct reproach to the good name of the
state and urges a vigorous enforce
ment of the laws. He closes with these
words:
Il speak thus earnestly because |
feel it will add to our humiliation if the
government should interpose to abate
a nuisance which may be properly
handled by your county; because if
government should so interpose, il
would be equivalent to an admission on
our part that we are incapable of pre-
serving law and order in our state.
Attorney Gabels Reply.
This letter called out spirited reply
from Attorney Gable. which reached
Governor Wells yesterday. IN this Mr..
Gable states that the conditions in the
strip" have been grossly exaggerated,
largely through Captain Guilfoyle of
Fort Duchesne, who, the attorney says.
is too prolific in newspaper talk" and
that he takes special delight in malign-
ing the local authorities. Mr.. Gable
says that he explained the difficulty of
maintaining order in the Strip" as
it was twenty-five miles from any set
tlement, very difficult TO get witnesses
against offenders. very expensive to
prosecute cases, and that no provision
had been made by the county TO meet
such expenses. He offered to cooper
ate with Captain Guilfoyle, wrote him
an urgent letter on the subject, but got
no response.
Inspector Graves Roasted.
Mr.. Gable pays his respects to In
dian Inspector Walter II. Graves, who
reported to Washington on the matter.
This report is set down as IAN absurd
exaggeration, either written with a de-
plorable ignorance of the facts or with
Intentional or reckless disregard of
truth; he was clearly more intent on a
sensational report than on a statement
of facts" This report of Inspector
Graves says: "A score of murders
have been committed in these places
since this strip was set apart" Again
it speaks of half a dozen or more In
dams murdered at these places or af-
ter they had left them craZed with
liquor they had gotten there" Again
Mr.. Graves says: While 1 was in the
drunken melee occur
red during which several people were
These statements Mr. Gable de-
nounces as false. But one man was
killed while Mr.. Graves was in the
and the inquest made
that case out to be justifiable homi-
eide. AT another time a colored man
was killed by accident. and two Indians
were frozen to death on their way
home from the Strip" Mr.. Graves
score of murders were committed upon
the persons of two gamblers. These
are the facts as ascertained from the
best sources of information at hand.
The whole Graves report is set down
as made up of glittering generaIities
and devoid of facts.
Responsibility and Remedy.
AS to the responsibility Attorney
Gable says:
The Strip is much more of a men,
ace to the federal government than it
is to the state, it is supported by the
soldiers (and perhaps to a certain eX-
tent by Indians), it is within one mile
or the military reservation, and at least
twenty miles from any settlement of
the citizens of Utah. Although it is no
particular menace to the law-abidinG
citizens of Utah (being frequented only
by soldiers, gamblers. whisky dealers
and women of ill-repute. and perhaps
lndians) it is technically within the
of the state, and we are
ready, willing and able, q think, to
put stop to it; but the existence of
such a place is made possible only by
The patronage of the soldiers stationed
at Fort Duchesne. The officers in COM
nand there can force every individual
off the Strip within two months on
of lack of patronage, if he will
keep the soldiers away from. there, or if
he cannot keep them away, he could
With little trouble and no expense, fur
lish the local authorities with evil
ience of the sale of liquor and thus
enable us to stop the sale of liquor at
/ reasonable expense, otherwise it
would necessitate a very long and ex-
)ensive crusade against the traffic-and
% what purpose? Qeaving for consider
ltion hereafter the report of Indian In
'pector Graves) TO no other purpose
han to reduce by one the several
,et liquor.
attractions of the law are concomi
ant, more or less, with the sale of
liquor. and i am frank to say that the
Strip is no exception, but as long as
he commanding officer at Fort Du-
hesne remain Indifferent in the mat
er, l feel that their attitude is almost
equivalent to spreading the wing of |
over them, inasmuch as they !
ould so easily prevent them from Sc |
uring the patronage of the soldiers I'M
Ter their command. without which they
ould not exist; or not desiring to do |
hat could furnish us with tht evidence
Which wiuld be necessary to convict !
hem continuously of illegal selling. I'M
ii it would be Improbable"
AS to the remedy Mr.. Gable says that |
the army officers will not cooperate |
With him he will recommend to the |
'oard of county commissioners that
liquor licenses issue TO applicants and !
hat the laws of Utah in regard to sa-
Oons be enforced as rigidly as possi |
lie. He is sure the local authorities are !
ully competent to enforce the laws of |
he state If the saloons are licensed and |
ut up the required bonds To pay all |
ines and forfeitures against them. But |
e would prefer to cooperate with the |
rmy officials and clean out the place !
ntirely. The federal government. he /
avs. has no power to interfere on le- |
al grounds.
Real FSfafa Troueforc