Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-02-17
Characteristic Claim in the In.
terest Of the Senior Senator
From Utah.
WHERE CREDIT IS REALLY DUE.
How Senator Smoot did Things While
His Compatrlot Was Getting Ready
Pertinent Comment

The Tribune claims that Senator
Kearns made the Sanpete sheepmen
happy, thinking he had been the means
Of securing the modification OF the or
der issued by the secretary OF the In
terror, allowing only $4,000 sheep TO be
grazed on the county forest reserve;
that through his 'untlring efforts the
order was modified so that 100000 would
be allowed this year.
The fact is that Senator Kearns had
no more to do with securing the modi-
fcation Of that order than any jack
rabbit running in the hills OF Sanpete
county. Senator Smoot secured the
modification by his individual efforts,
while Senator Kearns was getting the
consent Of Commissioner Richards to
meeting with the woolgrowers OF San
pete county.
The true story Of the affair Is as fol-
lows: l., X. Anderson telegraphed to
the Utah senators that II the order
Of the secretary Of the interior were
carried out, 1t would cause the destruc-
ton OF 100000 sheep. Senator Kearns
sent doc" Jones down to Commits
sioner Richards to ask him II he would
grant hearing TO the committee from
the woolgrowers convention OF Sanpete
county. Commissioner Richards SIM
ply answered, Il Will" There Senator
Kearns' efforts ended.
Senator Smoot proceeded In an en-
tirely different way With his accus-
toned promptness, Immediately on re-
ceiVing the telegram he left the senate
chamber and went 10 the bureau OF for
estry called Mr.. Pinchot, and had him
send for Mr.. Potter the man who re-
commended that only 100000 sheep be
allowed this year. The 100000 order
had been modified TO $4,000 because
Senator smoot insisted, though the Salt
Lake papers gave Senator Kearns the
credit. Senator Smoot spent consider
able time In convincing Messrs, Pinchot
and Potter that their order was unreal
sonable and unjust, and should be mod
flied, This decided action on the part
of Senator Smoot had the desired re-
suit, for II had been agreed at the meet
ing In Provo that the policy OF decreas-
ing the number OF sheep on reserves
would be gradual. Senator Smo0t in
sisted that the order In the Sanpete
case be modified to 100000 sheep for
this year, and not less than 225,OoO for
next year. The three gentlemen then
went to Commissioner Richards office,
where Senator Smoot brought the COM
missioner to his view, AT this point
Senator Smoot went 10 the telegraph
office and wired to L. r, Anderson that
he expected to have the order modified
so as to allow 100000 head Of sheep
this year, and would let him know de-
ilnitely within an hour, The matter
was then submitted to the secretary Of
the interior and within the hour, as
promised, Senator Smoot wired Mr. An
derson that he had secured the modif.
cation Of the order as II now exists.
Senator Kearns knew nothing about
this. and was not consulted In any
way. Senator smoot accomplished the
work while Senator Kearns' secretary
was arranging for a meeting; yet the
Salt Lake papers We're entirely silent
as to Senator Shoots action In the
premises, and gave the credit to sena-
tor Kearns, WOOLGRoWER-