Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-06-09
To the Editor,

| ~ iH' GliNvis
The Stake superintendent demands
from me an apology. He has sent me
word that unless ! apologize ] am de-
MED the freedom Of the text book con-
ven,lon. The fact OF exclusion does not
appeal TO me one way or another since
have no time to attend again but as
the sessions Of this body are open to
every citizen not book promoter,
cannot say enjoy the distinction thus
thrust upon me.
In the first place ! object TO the con-
dillon named. An honorable apology Is
made without reference to privileges OF
penalties If / have done anyone a
wrong, want to apologize, conditions
or no conditions. In the second place,
this threat Of exclusion comes either
from the superintendent himself IN
which case he assumes too much--ii is
hardly his convention. OF II comes from
the convention as a body In which case
! can think Of no censure more severe.
TO warrant such a slip my letter must
either have grieyously wronged that
body. or been grieyously mlsapprehend-
ed, Naturally enough. therefore, de-
sire TO make a further explanation. As
TO whether It will be an apology re-
mains to be seen. ut may perhaps
turn out a song. 1t may turn out SER
mon"
The implication In supt Nelson's
message was that / should apologize
before the convention but II ! have
done wrong on the house top / should |
scOrn 10 make II right in the closet. / |
can apologize only through the News"
This must explain why ! make public |
the superlntendents demand. II | |
could have found any other occasion |
for this letter | should gladly have |
spared him as well as myself In this
matter.
Consider, first, the conditions under |
which the convention works. For
months II has been known 10 book
makers when II would meet and who
would be It's members. Agents from
nearly three score houses have Travelled
up and down the state from Randolph
10 st. George seeking TO prepossess SUI
perintendents In favor OF their
books. The more powerful
houses have spent money freely In pur-
'hasing the influence OF local men.
These agents and promoters. although
EXCLUDED from the convention proper.
IRE on hand TO press their claims be-
ween sessions Every known method
II influencing votes Is resorted to--dln.
lers. drives, theaters. what-not-all
which are counted legitimate methods
II promotion But do these agents stop
here 1t is hard not to reach the
conclusion that money is directly Of
cred to members OF the convention.
{ would be marvel past believing II
I were not so.
The convention begins It's work It
oon transpires that the text books OF d
powerful combination are carrying the
Law This may be owing TO the fact
hat they are superior, or II may be be-
ause OF corruption. This latter alter
lative Is insisted upon by the losing
rms and all their friends. The vote
\ by secret ballot and consequently
here is no way OF checking up the rec
nd OF the voters The convention goes
n needless Of the scandal the method
( voting has produced.
My offense consisted in drawing the
ttentlon Of the publc--whose servants
hese men are-to the status OF affairs
n Salt Lake city. ] made no charge:
N the contrary | defended the rank
nd file OF this body against the accu-
atlons that filled the air In and about
he convention And / could do this
consistently. Half Of these superln-
endents are personal friends Of mine
whose character | Know as well as
now my own brothers and whose In
egrity ! would youch for with my life.
nevertheless. TO say that no one In that
ody Is voting from mixed motives Is
lore than | or any one else Ii called
pom 10 believe. II need not happen
hat there be a deadly fifteen" as
harged m the accusations to which
referred in my letter, three or four
otes prlmed invariably to a certain
nd would, where opinion Is naturally
ivlded produce the same result. II
had any motive IN writing. other ,
han 10 Put the convention on its
uard, II was to Induce II to change
system Of voting which hides the
ecord OF every member, and leaves