Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-01-12
THAT NEWSPAPER INTERVIEW.

The position Of the Deseret News In
regard to the alleged interference OF the
President Of the United states with the
election OF q United states Senator, Is
not fairly stated by either Of our morn
ing contemporaries It is simply this;
We decline 10 accept as authoritative,
the mere statement Of a newspaper cor
respondent in q reported interview
with the junior senator from Utah, that
the President had sent message to
the Legislature" Of a sovereign state
Of the Union, for the purpose Of in
fuencing that body in its selection Of
a Senator.
The interview business is not uni
versally regarded as something to be
entirely relied upon, and unless 1t is
further authenticated than by its pub
l.cation In the papers to which it was
furnished. 1t should not be received as
anything further than newspaper re-
port It ought not to affect, In the
smallest degree, the discharge Of the
important duty deyoying upon the
Legislature OF the state Of Utah.
a great cutlery has naturally arisen
about the alleged action Of the Presi-
dent. which is very strongly denounced,
both from Democratic and Republican
sources TO offset the numerous denun'
Citations uttered against Presi-
dent Roosevelt, attempts are be-
ing made to show that what he is said
TO have done is not, as claimed. unpre-
cedented, 1t is stated that President
Cleveland and President Mckinley,
each gave suggestions against the nom
nation OF asA~A4-at11-Ss Senator from
utah. These assertions are positively
untrue President Cleveland made no
such endeavor, neither did President
Mckinley. While It IL unusually very
difficult to prove negative, We could
do this as to both these instances, II we
so desired and had sufficient space 10
spare for the purpose. one point win
make the falsehood about President
Cleveland very clear, When he was
alleged to have taken such step, he
was not President and had not been for
two years.
The fabrication OF the tale that Is
told by Washington paper, Is further
evidence to us Of the unreliabiity OF
the report concerning the course in this
matter Of President Roosevelt. We
take no stock in his alleged message
to the Legislature" As TO the ''ulti-
matum,' we need say nothing further
Even the story told by the interviewer
does not justify the use Of such term,
nor has there been any defiance" Of
the President in the announcement that
Reed smoot Is stlll candidate. nor
viii there be in the action OF the Legls-
lature, whatever it may be.
The story put in circulation that
President Roosevelt had sent a mes
sage TO President Joseph +. Smith in
relation to this matter, is also posi-
tive falsehood, made out of whole
cloth' There is neither reason nor ex-
cuse for the untruth. II should recoll
upon its manufacturer.
We maintain our view as to the duty
of the gentlemen elected by the people
to represent them IN the Legislature OF
Utah, They ought not to be
Influenced in any way by a
mere newspaper Interview" as 10
what the President is alleged to have
said, privately, TO a person who has
repeated II to newspaper reporter,
NOT should they be swayed in any way
~ the story concerning President
Cleveland and President Mckinley.
Even II It were true, which II certainly
IS not, that would not Justify the pres
ent chief executive Of the nation in at
tempting TO interfere with them in the
performance of a legislative duty.
The intent of the whole scheme is ap-
parent The parties that are behind
the plot have very poorly concealed the
wires with which they have been work
! ing. We trust that the conspiracy will
not succeed. We do not believe for a
moment that it VIII Even If Reed
Smoot could be swept cut OF the way
the end in view OF the schemers would
not be attained. Instead II will. In our
opinion, do damage 10 the interests OF
itr chief promoters. and win certainly
reflect no credit upon them, nor upon
the party which they are supposed tC
represent. And among those who be.
li@ye that President Roosevelt has as.
sumed to take a hand in matters thai
are entirely outside Of his official pre-
negatives. It win not prove Of any bene-
n. to him. The whole matter shows
great indiscretion on the part Of It's
principal manipulators and should fal
Fat TO the ground