Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-01-31
A WELCOME VICTORY.

The fight made by Hon. w, II King,
In the United states House Of Repre-
sentatiyes on Wednesday particulars
Of which appear in our Washington dis
patches. Is deserving OF great praise
and was worthily crowned with Victory.
The attempt TO tack on to an appropria-
ton bill for the support Of agricultural
colleges, such an amendment as that
introduced by Congressman Lands
shows the rancor that stu burns In
some anti Mormon" breasts. and also
the ignorance that still prevails con-
corning Mormon" AFFAIR among
many otherwise well informed people.
The counter amendment offered by
Mr.. King aroused some excitement ana
may be considered as sayoring OF re-
taliation But its purpose was good
and It's effect striking. lie did not ex-
peot II 10 pass. He presented II as a
foil to the thrust OF the Indiana as
sailant Of Utah. II was not intended to
make a comparison between the mar
riage system that once obtained In
Utah. and the corrupt practices OF
lawless people In Indiana or elsewhere
Nothing Of the kind was intimated. IT
brought the question OF the discrlmina-
ton desired by the Indiana politician
sharply into view. aud served to de-
feat tho obnoxious measure
There was not the slightest need for
Mr.. Lands stack on the Utah Agri-
cultural College. The alleged reasons
for It had no foundation In fact. He
referred. a. his authority. to q bald
statement without a hair Of corobora-
ton. made by paper that Is notori-
ously engaged In disseminating false
hoods. and utterly Indifferent as 20
their absurdlty and the entire lack Of
proof IN their support. The folly Of
adopting such statements without In
vesilgation, has been 80 often made
manifest that 1t Is a marvel when pun
lie men OF ability echo them In the
halls Of Congress, and thus put them
selves on a par with the Original utter
ers Of libel.
The Representative from Utah right
~ met ana valiantly conquered the
incautlous foe. The effect OF the pro-
posed amendment would not have been
OF any financial loss 70 Utah. II had
no real application TO our college. The
supposed conditions on which the prop
uatlon was predicated have no exist
ence. Il was the slur upon the insitu-
ton. and the encouragement it would
have given TO the slanderers who assai
Utah. that rendered It obnoxious. Il
was happily voted down and stamped
under foot. After prevailing In COM
mit,re Of the whole, II was lost when 1t
came before the House. and Us defeat
was due to the able efforts OF Con-
gresham King.
Utah ought not to be held up before
the country In false light That Is
the reason why these attempts to fasten
upon her. legislation that reflects I'M
properly. Is resented by her people. The
material or other effects that would be
the result OF such attacks would amount
10 nothing. or So near TO NIL that II Is
not worth considering But those ei-
forts are marks OF misunderstanding
and evidences Of ignorance that are
surprising at this late date In her his
tory and the country ought not TO be
misled into urging needless measures
and legislators should not pander 10
the demands OF fanaical or uniformed
agitators. who know not what they
do" The defeat OF the Lands amend
ment Is straw that shows the direc-
ton OF the congressional atmosphere.