The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-10-23
Roberts Defense of Judge Powers
Eloquent Democrat
Takes Up Anonymous
Charges of Republi-
can Committee Against
Nominee for Congress


at the Democratic Lehi meeting,
held on last Wednesday evening.
was, of course, but a. brief synopsis of
what he said. Since then, however The
Herald has obtained a Verbatim report
Of what was said in that part of his
speech relating TO Judge Powers, and IS
as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen am con-
scious that have already detained you
longer than j expected 70 on this occa-
sion. but ! must trespass still further
upon your patience while / make refer
ence to our state candidates and to
local conditions. In doing SO, I begin
with the head Of our state ticket. the
Hon. Q. W. Powers. Democratic nom
luee for congress. Mr.. Powers has been
resident Of our state for many years,
and for a number Of yearS-in fact,
from the commencement of its exist
cnce in the state-has been identified
with the Democratic party. He has
served as state chairman through Que
OF the most interesting, and also the
most trying, campaign OF our history
tho campaign of 1895. He has also
served the party in the capacity Of del
egate to the national conventions sew
eral times. but for the first time after
all these years of service he is nom
tnated for political Office in this
state
Time For Recognition.
"A few days before the state Dem
ocratic convention which nominated
our candidates, l remarked 10
some of my friends that, in my judg-
nent, the time had come when the
Democratic party Of Utah must recog-
nize the able services of Judge Pow
ers; and said 10 the gentleman him
self that in my opinion he would be
honored by that convention, and that
the honor would come to him in man
ner that would be most gratifying. All
of which, as you know, came to pass.
The Democratic party had but one can
didate for the nomination to congress.
That candidate was Judge Powers, and
he was nominated by reclamation,
amid the applause and joy of the rep
resentatives of the Democrats of Utah;
and, under all the circumstances, what
ever may be the outcome of this cam
paign, Judge Powers will always re-
member the honor that was conferred
upon him on that occasion. He en-
tered into the campaign with high
hopes and, of course. is still hopeful
and even buoyant in his anticipation Of
success. But much to the surprise and
regret. at least Of all fair minded peo-
Gratis or Republicans, we find the Judge
is assaiIed by the circulation of false
hoods, by charges of bad faith, which !
must be most painful to him, and he
finds Il necessary at this stage of the
campaign to specify some eight or ten
charges against him and stamp them
as falsehOOds. I think this is most re-
Crettable-that is, that he should be /
thus assailed and forced to make such |
denials 1 shall not enter into a formal !
refutation of all that is said against I
him. but shall content myself with spe- !
cial reference to one of the charges. !
Some History Recalled.
But before doing even that, want 20 |
call your attention to a little local his !
tory. 1t is said that Judge Powers |
came here as a federal appointee-and /
that is true. And it is said that he was |
opposed 10 the Mormon people or at /
least to some conditions which they /
regarded as proper, and which the !
judge believed improper. and contrary
TO the institutions of the country at 4
large, and contrary TO the spirit of our
latter-day civilization. He was very
vigorous in his opposition to those con-
ditiOnS which ne believed destructive
of the best interests of the community.
s. is true; that was his position. That f!
was the position practically OF all the
Gentle population of our state That !
was the position of Judge Varian, who
is with me tonight; but my Mormon
friends, we must remember this that /
If these gentlemen and all the Gentiles
of our community were opposed to our
beliefs on some religious and social
questions. and to the practices growing
out of those beliefs, we also stood OPP
posed to them, and is ii not possible
that our opposition to them in that con-
trOVerSy was just as offensive to them
as theirs was 10 US in those olden days? /
But the time came when a settlement /
of the differences between these two
classes must be made if the interests Of |
Utah were TO be tie first consideration.
I think wise cOunsels prevailed, and
we met together and agreed to let the
past dead bury its dead: and for the
future we all agreed to stand upon the
broad plane of American citizenship
and hereafter work in the interests of
our Utah as an American common
wealth. At this point 1 do not hesitate
10 say that any man, or set Of men.
who will go back or that settlement.
and attempt 20 dig up the old issues of
those days is an enemy to the best in
terests Of the state Of Utah. and the
peace of her people. To go back into
those days 70 find cause of accuse ton
against n candidate now before the peo-
pie is infamous.
Mr.. Spry's Duty.
81 hear il is being said that Judge
Powers is man not TO he trusted by
the people Of Utah The fear is irsin-
uated that he will not be true to her
people or her interests; that now, even
while a candidate on the Democratic
I fr bot Ff.rs H. =
tive Of this state 10 the national cor
gross, standing before audiences dis
cussing the campaign issues, that, Sc
cretly. he is IN. league with what is
called the American pSrty-that Off
shoot from the Republican party Of /
this state. that 0Utgrowth of RepubIi-
can broils which threatens to turn the I
wheels Of progress backward TO resur-
rect old hatreds and animOsit:es. that
We had all hoped were buried--and
buried forever-it is said. / repeat. that
our candidate cor congress is secretly
in league with that movement \
worse thing than that could NOT be said
OF a man. politically. It would be. II
true. an infamy, the climax Of perfidy.
the ripest fruit of iniquity-ripe even
10 rOttenness. Il is the most serious
charge that could be made against our
candidate. and those who make IL
should understand now serious IL IS.
If there is proof Of il. il is imperative
that the proof should b. made known.
ne Republican state chairman. Mr..
Spry. man for whom 7 have the high
est personal regard. does himself great
injustice when he stands in the position
Of shielding the alleged authority for
this statement. In my opinion he is
wrong i'm doing a thing of that kim.
He owes Il TO himself 20 make known
the source OF his alleged information:
but what is Of more importance. he