The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-03-05
HOT ITALIAN FEUD
RACES IN SALT LAKE
Leader BOnetti Denounced by
His COuntrymen.
HELD A MASS-MEETING
KISSED REPUBLICAN CANDI-
DATE FOR CONSUL.
HELD A MASS-MEETING

Charles Bonetti, the most prominent
Italian in the state, the man who voted
ali the Notable Italians of Utah for Nc
Kinley. and who is endorsed by the state
committee for a diplomatic appointment,
is in SORE trouble Last night III Italians
met in a little room on the west side and
denounced Mr. BOnetti as a traitor to
his cOUntrymen and a. dishonest man. The
excitement at this meeting was most in
tense and, although all the speeches were
made in the Italian language, the Kisses,
grOans and Shuffling of feet every time
the name of Bonetti was mentioned ex-
pressed the sentiments of those present.
The cause of all this excitement among
the Italians OF the city is simple. Some
time since a house was searched by the
ponce on the west side of the city The
Nth of the place was horrible and thirty
small house. Benefit tok occasion to
GenOunce the Italians found in this con-
dition as unfit TO be admitted into Amer
lea He spoke, he said, free Amer
lean citizen. The following day he apOI-
ogized as he said his life was in danger
from some OF those he had styled low
grade Italians. The apology does not
seem to have satisfied his offended coun-
trymen, and the meeting of last night is
the result up to date
Mr.. Bonetti says he has made citizens
out OF all the Italians in the state who
are now voting, and that naturalization
hos cost these men not q. cent. Naturally,
Mr.. Bonetu thinks the time has come
1or MN TO get his reward for all his
work Since the election he has been
hcan executive committee OF the state
committee filled his cup of joy by en-
dors-ns him last week tor the position he
The meeting last night was full of dra-
matte action The room was crowded to
over two hours When the blood OF the
impUlsive Italians became heated by the
etoqUence of the speakers, sesticulatiOnS
and all manner of excIamations added to
the interest OF the scene. 1t was impOS-
sible to mistake the sentiment of the
crowd.
FOR JacheJto. his rival for the leadership
of his people, told palmer than words
could nave Done that so far as those pres
ent were concerned at least, Bonettfs
acted as chairman of the nesting, was
the leader of the insurgents.
Signed a Statement.
At he close of the meeting the following
statement was made to the representative
Referring 10 the article in your issue
of March headed: Undesirable Italians,
we, the undersigned, desire to emphati-
cally deny that Mr.. BOnetti is in any
way a leader of the Italian people of Salt
Lake or vicinity. And in this connection
we wish further to state that he has
right whatever to speak tor us or for
any Italians in this city, and further, that
the italian people of Salt Lake recognize
each Individual should act tor himself.
Mr.. Bonetti should be ashamed of
himself for speaking of the Italians the
Wav he has for he knows 1t is untrue;
and we want the American people 10
know that he is not an honest man.
Therefore, we oes4re JndC Mr- Bonettl
retract the statement made in The Herald
that he is the recognized leader of the
Italian people
This paper was signed by every one of
the III men present at the meeting, and a
committee was appointed TO call upon Mr..
Bonetti and notify him of the action of
offensive language This committee was
made UP OF Antonio Jachetto, Pietro Vim
CELL, James iBOmbino, Rafael Marinaro
and Michele BOSSiO.
1t would seem that the object of the
meeting was not only to depose Mr. Bon
ETH from his leadership, but TO start
business boycott upon him as well. After
the close Of the meeting Jachetto said:
BOnettis saloon and barber shop; we
thought he was an honest man. But now
rnaz ne bi1 mas m Ems Ne bHe ioet o,
trade by the way he has acted"
Benefit Defiant
Mr.. Bonetti has professed to be in fear
or bodily harm ever since this contro-
neISS Sl%ItGo, dh9 yer ne SHOWS no as
he took when he issued his apology.
You can say for me-" he said last
night when seen after the meeting, that
[ never said l was a. leader of the Italian
people in this city state, but 1 am now
and have been considered a leader by the
Italians In the city, county and state
Most of those Italians present at the
meeting come from Calibria in Italy and
are OF the lower class They nave often
come to me for help, as they could neith-
or read nor write; / have given them as
sistance whenever they came for it. L
will wager 81 GOO that there were not
twenty-five American citizens among the
III in the meeting. AS for my being an
honest man. 1 shall let my record speak
for me-"
Mr. Bonetti then gave a sketch of his
life from the time he was born in Paler-
mo down to the present. He was very
much excited. When the boycott was
mentioned he said:
Let them boycott me if they wish.
bahi L don't live among dagoes. There
of them; they don't belong to my class.
] have helped them and this is the way
they treat me in return.